Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Melobasis thoracica   Blackburn, 1887
subfamily  Buprestinae » tribe  Melobasini » subtribe  Melobasina
Melobasis  species group: thoracica
Melobasis thoracica   Adult images
Melobasis thoracica, on Acacia myrtifolia, SL Melobasis thoracica, PL0162, on Acacia myrtifolia, SL Melobasis thoracica, on Acacia myrtifolia, SL Melobasis thoracica, PL0165, from Acacia myrtifolia, SL, 10.1 × 3.7 mm Melobasis thoracica, PL0714, female, on Leptospermum myrsinoides, SL, 9.1 × 3.6 mm Melobasis thoracica, PL0714, female, on Leptospermum myrsinoides, SL, 9.1 × 3.6 mm Melobasis thoracica, PL0714, female, on Leptospermum myrsinoides, SL, 9.1 × 3.6 mm Melobasis thoracica, PL0714, female, on Leptospermum myrsinoides, SL, 9.1 × 3.6 mm Melobasis thoracica, on Acacia myrtifolia, SL Melobasis thoracica, on Acacia myrtifolia, SL Melobasis thoracica, on Acacia myrtifolia, SL Melobasis thoracica, on Acacia myrtifolia, SL
Actual
size¹:
9.0 mm
×
3.2 mm
Measurements (mm)
malefemale
L19.1
7.5 – 10.1
 n = 118.3
8 – 8.55
 n = 2
L28.9
7.5 – 9.55
 n = 5
W3.2
2.7 – 3.55
 n = 113.0
2.9 – 3.1
 n = 2
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,  NL,  SL,  KI,  SE
Australian States:  WA,  SA,  VIC,  NSW,  QLD
Southern South Australia distribution
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 thoracica  (total of 50 beetles)
1 1 19
12 11 3
2 1
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Legend
live emerged adults, count > median value of 3 per quarter month
live emerged adults, count <= median value of 3
live non-emerged adults only, for that quarter month
12
number of active beetles for that quarter month
Adult host plants
beetles sites SA regions¹ family position on host plant
Acacia myrtifolia232SLF
Acacia sp.51FRF
Leptospermum myrsinoides51SLM
Pultenaea daphnoides31SLF
Acacia leiophylla21KIF
Acacia pycnantha22KIF
Leptospermum sp.22SLM
Eucalyptus diversifolia ssp. diversifolia11SEM
Exocarpos cupressiformis11SLS
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 family
Code beetles % host plant taxa
F Fabaceae 35 80% 4
M Myrtaceae 8 18% 2
S Santalaceae 1 2% 1
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on flower(s)33
on flowering plant71
on foliage or non-flowering plant123
on plant (unspecified)133
other
  on dead trunk11
  on stems81
Lure affinity
colour beetles sites SA regions¹
orange11SE
red11SE
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.