Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Meliboeithon confusum   Bellamy, 1988
subfamily  Agrilinae » tribe  Coraebini » subtribe  unplaced
Meliboeithon confusum   Adult images
Meliboeithon confusum, PL4139, male, on Allocasuarina muelleriana ssp. muelleriana, SE, 6.8 × 2.5 mm Meliboeithon confusum, PL4139, male, on Allocasuarina muelleriana ssp. muelleriana, SE, 6.8 × 2.5 mm Meliboeithon confusum, PL4139, male, on Allocasuarina muelleriana ssp. muelleriana, SE, 6.8 × 2.5 mm Meliboeithon confusum, PL4139, male, on Allocasuarina muelleriana ssp. muelleriana, SE, 6.8 × 2.5 mm Meliboeithon confusum, PL5771, male, EP, 5.8 × 2.1 mm Meliboeithon confusum, PL4139, male, on Allocasuarina muelleriana ssp. muelleriana, SE, 6.8 × 2.5 mm Meliboeithon confusum, PL5771, male, EP, 5.8 × 2.1 mm Meliboeithon confusum, PL5771, male, EP, 5.8 × 2.1 mm
Actual
size¹:
6.6 mm
×
2.4 mm
Measurements (mm)
malefemale
L16.4
5.75 – 6.75
 n = 37.2
 n = 1
L26.2
5.6 – 6.65
 n = 37.0
 n = 1
W2.3
2.1 – 2.45
 n = 32.5
 n = 1
Legend  L1length from clypeus/frons to elytral apex (mean, range, sample size)
L2length from anterior of edge of eyes to elytral apex
Wmaximum width with elytra fully closed
Meliboeithon confusum  Distinctive features

Cylindrical pronotum (lacks outwardly projecting basal corners and lateral constriction), differing from M. cylindricolle by its distinctly convex eyes, longer groove on the front of the head, hairs on dorsal side shorter and more evenly distributed, and often greater body length.

Notes

The collection illustrated here appears to be the first reported record of this species in SA. Subsequent examination of SA Museum Meliboeithon specimens uncovered an early collection by Blackburn from Port Lincoln that appears to be this species although it is longer than usual.

Distribution
SA Regions¹:  EP,  SE
Australian States:  WA,  SA,  QLD?
Southern South Australian occurrences
LegendP.J.Lang collection vouchered records
other private collection or museum specimens, or sightings
Satellite map
Terrain map
Enlarge map
Adult activity records for Meliboeithon confusum  (total of 3 beetles)
2 1
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Legend
live emerged adults, count > median value of 2 per quarter month
live emerged adults, count <= median value of 2
live non-emerged adults only, for that quarter month
12
number of active beetles for that quarter month
Adult host plant
beetles sites SA regions¹ family position on host plant
Allocasuarina muelleriana ssp. muelleriana21SEC
Legendbeetlescount of beetles collected from, or sighted on, host plant taxon
sitescount of major sites (unique 10 km grid cells +/- some distinct approximate localities)
Plant names in green are hyperlinked to a matching host species page with plant photos.
Plant family
Code beetles % host plant taxa
C Casuarinaceae 2 100% 1
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on foliage or non-flowering plant21
Lure affinity
colour beetles sites SA regions¹
bright green11SE
¹ LegendregionsSA State Herbarium regions (map)
EA: Eastern, EP: Eyre Peninsula, FR: Flinders Ranges, GT: Gairdner-Torrens, KI: Kangaroo Island, LE: Lake Eyre, MU: Murray, NL: Northern Lofty, NU: Nullarbor, NW: North-Western, SE: South-Eastern, SL: Southern Lofty, YP: Yorke Peninsula
sizeThe ellipse is the correct size when printed, indicative on a desktop screen, and likely to be wrong on a mobile device.