Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata   Saunders, 1876
subfamily  Buprestinae » tribe  Melobasini » subtribe  Melobasina
Melobasis  species group: nervosa
Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata   Adult images
Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata, PL0729B, female, on Acacia calamifolia, NL Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata, PL0729B, female, on Acacia calamifolia, NL Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata, PL0729B, female, on Acacia calamifolia, NL Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata, PL0729B, female, on Acacia calamifolia, NL Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata, PL3055A, male, from Acacia victoriae ssp. victoriae, FR, 15.8 × 4.8 mm Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata, PL3056A, male, on Acacia victoriae ssp. victoriae, FR, 15.6 × 4.8 mm Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata, PL3056A, male, on Acacia victoriae ssp. victoriae, FR, 15.6 × 4.8 mm Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata, PL0729B, female, on Acacia calamifolia, NL Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata, PL0729B, female, on Acacia calamifolia, NL
Actual
size¹:
15.7 mm
×
5.0 mm
Measurements (mm)
malefemale
L115.8
14.2 – 17
 n = 815.6
13.6 – 18.25
 n = 7
L215.3
13.7 – 16.35
 n = 815.1
13.15 – 17.5
 n = 6
W4.9
4.4 – 5.35
 n = 85.0
4.35 – 5.9
 n = 7
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
Distribution
SA Regions¹:  FR,  EA,  EP,  NL,  MU,  SL
Australian States:  SA,  NT,  NSW,  VIC
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 Melobasis cupreovittata cupreovittata  (total actual records: 51 beetles)
1
3 8 13 4
10 3
5
1
1
1
1
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Legend
9
number of active beetles, actually recorded in that quarter-month
actual count > 3 (median)
actual count <= 3 (median)
Adult host plants
beetles sites SA regions¹ family position on host plant
Acacia victoriae ssp. victoriae3315FR, EP, NLF
Acacia calamifolia104FR, MUF
Acacia sp.31EPF
Hakea sp.21FRP
Acacia ligulata11EPF
Senna artemisioides ssp. x coriacea11NLF
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
F Fabaceae 47 96% 3
P Proteaceae 2 4% 1
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on flower(s)42
on flowering plant32
on foliage or non-flowering plant2311
on plant (unspecified)11
other
  in spider web52
  on branch112
  on dead branch11
  on stems22
Host plant notes

Adults are strongly associated with Elegant Wattle Acacia victoriae ssp. victoriae and it is postulated that this is probably a larval host plant also.

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.