Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Neocuris sapphira   Carter, 1924
subfamily  Buprestinae » tribe  Curidini » subtribe  Neocurina
Neocuris sapphira   Adult images
Neocuris sapphira, PL3585, male, on Polycalymma stuartii, GT, 4.9 × 2.1 mm Neocuris sapphira, PL3585, male, on Polycalymma stuartii, GT, 4.9 × 2.1 mm Neocuris sapphira, PL3585, male, on Polycalymma stuartii, GT, 4.9 × 2.1 mm Neocuris sapphira, PL3585, male, on Polycalymma stuartii, GT, 4.9 × 2.1 mm Neocuris sapphira, PL3585, male, on Polycalymma stuartii, GT, 4.9 × 2.1 mm Neocuris sapphira, PL3585, male, on Polycalymma stuartii, GT, 4.9 × 2.1 mm Neocuris sapphira, PL3585, male, on Polycalymma stuartii, GT, 4.9 × 2.1 mm Neocuris sapphira, PL3585, male, on Polycalymma stuartii, GT, 4.9 × 2.1 mm Neocuris sapphira, PL3585, male, on Polycalymma stuartii, GT, 4.9 × 2.1 mm
Actual
size¹:
4.7 mm
×
2.0 mm
Measurements (mm)
male
L14.7
4.4 – 4.9
 n = 2
L24.6
4.4 – 4.75
 n = 2
W2.0
1.94 – 2.05
 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
Neocuris sapphira  Distinctive features

Readily distinguishable from N. cf. viridimicans in its squarer overall body shape, more bluish coloration with gold-coppery reflections below and on the frons, and its aedeagus morphology.

Notes

This species differs markedly from the species treated in these pages as Neocuris cf. viridimicans in its overall body shape, aedeagus morphology, colouration, earlier emergence and preference for Daisy family (Asteraceae) hosts. The collections cited in the following note by Carter 1928 (p. 281) are probably conspecific with this taxon: 'N. viridimicans Fairm - W.Aust. (in Geraldton district, Mrs. G.A. Waterhouse found this in several instances inside an 'everlasting' flower, Helichrysum sp.)'.

Distribution
SA Regions¹:  NU,  GT
Australian States:  WA,  SA
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 Neocuris sapphira  (total of 2 beetles)
1 1
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Legend
live emerged adults, count > median value of 1 per quarter month
live emerged adults, count <= median value of 1
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
Polycalymma stuartii22GTA
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
A Asteraceae 2 100% 1
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on flower(s)22
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.