Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Microcastalia globithorax   (Thomson, 1878)
subfamily  Buprestinae » tribe  unplaced » subtribe  none
Microcastalia globithorax   Adult images
Microcastalia globithorax, PL3572D, male, on Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 2890), EP, 12.6 × 4.3 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4104, male, on Choretrum glomeratum (for photo), EP, 11.7 × 3.9 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3572B, male, from Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 2890), EP, 12.1 × 4.0 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3572E, female, from Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 2890), EP, 16.8 × 5.8 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3778, male, SE, 11.2 × 3.7 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3573, female, from Choretrum chrysanthum, EP, 16.1 × 6.0 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3572D, male, on Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 2890), EP, 12.6 × 4.3 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3572D, male, on Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 2890), EP, 12.6 × 4.3 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3572E, female, on Choretrum chrysanthum, EP, 16.8 × 5.8 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4104, male, on Choretrum glomeratum (for photo) , EP, 11.7 × 3.9 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4104, male, on Choretrum glomeratum (for photo), EP, 11.7 × 3.9 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3572, adult host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 2890), EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3572, adult host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 2890), EP
Actual
size¹:
12.3 mm
×
4.2 mm
Measurements (mm)
malefemale
L111.4
9.65 – 12.6
n = 1416.3
15.95 – 16.8
n = 3
L211.2
9.45 – 12.4
n = 1415.9
15.6 – 16.35
n = 3
W3.9
3.3 – 4.25
n = 145.7
5.3 – 6
n = 3
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
Microcastalia globithorax  Distinctive features

Pronotum globose with rounded sides and large deep puncta; overall a dark blackish purple with varying amounts of violet, blue or green; has white powdery material ('mealiness'), mainly within puncta on head, pronotum and ventral side. Elytra with many relatively shallow, closely spaced ribs and shallowly scalloped apices that are weakly spinose or bispinose.

Notes

Two specimens of this species were collected on Kangaroo Island in 1878 by Waterhouse, as noted by Matthews 1985. Apart from this the species was only known in SA from old collections without specific localities, and a dead salt lake specimen, until the discovery of its larval host plants by Lang & Stolarski 2020. The host plant species are generally uncommon and patchily distributed which is probably a contributing factor to the species' rarity.

Distribution
SA Regions¹:  EPKISE
Australian States:  WASAVICQLD
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 Microcastalia globithorax  (total of 12 beetles)
3 9
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Legend
live emerged adults, count > median value of 9 per quarter month
live emerged adults, count <= median value of 9
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
91EPS
31SES
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
S Santalaceae 12 100% 2
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on foliage or non-flowering plant122
Lure affinity
colour beetles sites SA regions¹
yellow71SE
bright green11SE
dark violet11SE
Microcastalia globithorax Breeding record images
Microcastalia globithorax, PL4127A, larva, from Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3296) stem base, dorsal (above) & ventral (below), SE, 25.0 × 4.8 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3777D, larva, in Choretrum glomeratum root crown, SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski, 24.3 × 4.1 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4127A, larva, in Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3296) stem base, Castiarina larva on RHS, SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski, 25.0 × 4.8 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4127B, larva, in Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3296) stem base, SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski, 25.8 × 4.6 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4188, larva, in Leptomeria aphylla (PJL 3312), SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski, 27.8 × 5.0 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4188, larva, in Leptomeria aphylla (PJL 3312), SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski, 27.8 × 5.0 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3777A, larva, from Choretrum glomeratum root crown, dorsal view, SE, 30.0 × 5.7 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4127A, larva, from Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3296) stem base, dorsal & ventral, SE, 25.0 × 4.8 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4127A, larva, from Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3296), dorsal & ventral, SE, 25.0 × 4.8 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4127A, larva, from Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3296), dorsal, SE, 25.0 × 4.8 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4127A, larva, from Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3296), ventral, SE, 25.0 × 4.8 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4188, larva, from Leptomeria aphylla (PJL 3312), dorsal, SE, 27.8 × 5.0 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4188, larva, from Leptomeria aphylla (PJL 3312), ventral, SE, 27.8 × 5.0 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4105, larva, from Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3286) stem, dorsal, EP, 21.9 × 4.3 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4105, larva, from Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3286) stem, ventral, EP, 21.9 × 4.3 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4127A, larva, from Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3296) stem base, dorsal (above) & ventral (below), SE, 25.0 × 4.8 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4127A, larva, from Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3296) stem base, ventral & dorsal, SE, 25.0 × 4.8 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL5823, larva, in Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3635) stem base, EP, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski, 31.5 × 6.7 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL5823, larva, in Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3635) stem base, EP, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski, 31.5 × 6.7 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3634, prepupa, in Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 3083) stem base, EP, 24.6 × 6.6 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3634, prepupa, from Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 3083) stem base, EP, 24.6 × 6.6 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4015, prepupa, in Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3273) dead stem base, SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski, 12.5 × 3.7 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4015, prepupa, from Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3273) dead stem base, dorsal & ventral, SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski, 12.5 × 3.7 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL4113, pupa, from Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3291) exposed root, EP, 15.8 × 5.8 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3776, pupa, from Choretrum glomeratum stem, dorsal & ventral, SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski, 12.6 × 4.0 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3776, male, reared adult, from Choretrum glomeratum stem, incompletely eclosed, SE, 12.6 × 4.0 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3776, male, reared adult, from Choretrum glomeratum stem, SE, 12.6 × 4.0 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3574, dead non-emerged adult, in Choretrum chrysanthum, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3574, dead non-emerged adult, from Choretrum chrysanthum, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3574, dead non-emerged adult, from Choretrum chrysanthum, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3967, dead non-emerged adult, in Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 3212) mostly dead stem base, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3967, dead non-emerged adult, in Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 3212) mostly dead stem base, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3967, dead non-emerged adult, in Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 3212) mostly dead stem base, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3967, dead non-emerged adult, in Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 3212) mostly dead stem base, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3967, dead non-emerged adult, from Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 3212) mostly dead stem base, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL4015, larval host plant, Choretrum glomeratum (PJL 3273), frass-filled tunnels continuous to pupal chamber, SE, 12.5 × 3.7 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL3572, larval host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 2890), fresh exit hole, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3572, larval host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 2890), fresh exit hole, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3572, larval host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 2890), fresh exit holes, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3574, larval host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3574, larval host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum, exit hole with remains, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3574, larval host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum, exit hole with remains, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3574, larval host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum -exit hole with remains, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL3574, larval host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum, exit hole with remains, EP Microcastalia globithorax, PL4188, larval host plant, Leptomeria aphylla (PJL 3312), SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski, 27.8 × 5.0 mm Microcastalia globithorax, PL5275, larval host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 3541, SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski Microcastalia globithorax, PL5275, larval host plant, Choretrum chrysanthum (PJL 3541), exposed root with exit hole, SE, photo by A.M.P. Stolarski
Larval host plants
records sites SA regions¹ family adult liveadult deadadult ex pupapupalarva
218EP, SES31314
125EP, SES210
32SES12
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
S Santalaceae 36 100% 3
Position in larval host
positionrecordssitesadult liveadult deadadult ex pupapupalarva
root111
root crown111
stem base1761115
stem10711116
dead stem54113
unknown2211
Host plant notes

Various life stages of M. globithorax have been found at diverse locations in live stems of three shrub species of family Santalaceae: Choretrum chrysanthum, C. glomeratum and Leptomeria aphylla. Continuity of frass-filled tunnels indicates that larvae feed downwards, starting from small upper branchlets as narrow as c. 2 mm diameter to eventually pupate in the trunk or main stems near the plant base, and this is supported by observations of ovipositing behaviour (Lang & Stolarski 2020). In WA, adults have been mostly attracted to yellow lures (T.M.S. Hanlon & M. Powell 2020, pers. comm).

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.