Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Melobasis gratiosissima   Thomson, 1879
subfamily  Buprestinae » tribe  Melobasini » subtribe  Melobasina
Melobasis  species group: aclypea
Melobasis gratiosissima   Adult images
Melobasis gratiosissima, PL1587, FR Melobasis gratiosissima, PL1586B, on Acacia ligulata, FR Melobasis gratiosissima, PL3405, male, from Senna artemisioides ssp. petiolaris, MU, 7.8 × 2.6 mm Melobasis gratiosissima, PL1062, on Acacia quornensis, EP Melobasis gratiosissima, PL1587, on Acacia ligulata, FR Melobasis gratiosissima, PL1587, on Acacia ligulata, FR Melobasis gratiosissima, PL1587, on Acacia ligulata, FR Melobasis gratiosissima, PL1062, on Acacia quornensis, EP Melobasis gratiosissima, PL1062, on Acacia quornensis, EP
Actual
size¹:
6.8 mm
×
2.3 mm
Measurements (mm)
malefemale
L16.7
5.2 – 7.85
n = 207.4
6.85 – 8.7
n = 7
L26.5
5 – 7.7
n = 157.2
6.65 – 8.5
n = 7
W2.3
1.95 – 2.7
n = 202.5
2.25 – 3
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
Notes

See also the closely related Melobasis speciosa, treated here as a separate taxon (but placed as a synonym of M. gratiosissma by Carter 1909).

The separation of M. speciosa and M. gratiosissma needs further investigation as both are highly variable in size and colouration patterns. This is illustrated by the fact that Obenberger 1942 described three new varieties of M. gratiosissima, all from the same location which is interpreted as Gawler, SA (although given as 'New South Wales: Gowlerstown (Odewahn)').

Distribution
SA Regions¹:  NWLEGTFREPNLMUSL
Australian States:  WASAVICNSWQLD
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 gratiosissima  (total actual records: 82 beetles)
7
2 5 5 20
7 5 3 1
3 2 6
2 11 2
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 > 4 (median)
actual count <= 4 (median)
live non-emerged (inactive) beetles only
Adult host plants
beetles sites SA regions¹ family position on host plant
147GT, FR, EP, MUF
Acacia sp.136NW, FR, EP, MUF
93LE, EP, MUF
85FRF
75NW, LE, FRF
52EP, MUF
53FR, NLF
Senna sp.44EP, MUF
33FR, EPF
21FRF
21EPF
11EPF
11FRF
11EPC
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 71 99% 10
C Casuarinaceae 1 1% 1
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on flower(s)11
on flowering plant104
on foliage or non-flowering plant4624
on plant (unspecified)158
other
  in spider web21
  on stems11
Lure affinity
colour beetles sites SA regions¹
bright green11EP
Melobasis gratiosissima Breeding record images
Melobasis gratiosissima, PL4793, male, non-emerged adult, in Senna artemisioides ssp. quadrifolia dead branch showing 3 dissection stages, leg. B.J. McCallum & P.J. Lang, 6.9 x 2.3 mm, LE, 6.9 × 2.3 mm Melobasis gratiosissima, PL4793, male, non-emerged adult, in Senna artemisioides ssp. quadrifolia dead branch, leg. B.J. McCallum & P.J. Lang, 6.9 x 2.3 mm, LE, 6.9 × 2.3 mm
Larval host plants
records sites SA regions¹ family adult liveadult dead
11NLF1
11LEF1
Legendrecordscount of breeding adults, pupae and larvae
sitescount of major sites (unique 10 km grid cells +/- some distinct approximate localities)
adultlive = extracted alive;   dead = extracted dead as intact or fragmentary remains;   ex billet = reared and emerged from stored sections of host;   ex pupa = reared from sampled pupa
pupaextracted pupa;   pupa ex larva = reared pupa from larva
larvaextracted larva (any stage including prepupa)
gall (only)hatched or unhatched gall identified by form and position rather than contents
Plant names in green are hyperlinked to a matching host species page with plant photos.
Plant family
Code records % host plant taxa
F Fabaceae 2 100% 2
Position in larval host
positionrecordssitesadult liveadult dead
dead stem2211
Host plant notes

Adults show a strong association with Senna, but are also commonly found on a variety of Acacia species.

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.