Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Temognatha mnizechii mnizechii   (Saunders, 1868)
subfamily  Buprestinae » tribe  Stigmoderini » subtribe  Stigmoderina
Temognatha mnizechii mnizechii   Adult images
Temognatha mnizechii mnizechii, PL3542, on Eucalyptus leptophylla, EP Temognatha mnizechii mnizechii, PL3542, on Eucalyptus leptophylla, EP Temognatha mnizechii mnizechii, PL3542, on Eucalyptus leptophylla, EP Temognatha mnizechii mnizechii, PL3542, on Eucalyptus leptophylla, EP Temognatha mnizechii mnizechii, PL3542C, male, EP, 36.0 × 15.5 mm Temognatha mnizechii mnizechii, PL3542, on Eucalyptus leptophylla, EP Temognatha mnizechii mnizechii, PL3542, on Eucalyptus leptophylla, EP
Actual
size¹:
34.2 mm
×
14.5 mm
Measurements (mm)
malefemale
L134.5
32.2 – 36.35
 n = 1432.9
31.85 – 33.8
 n = 3
L233.4
31.3 – 36
 n = 432.4
31.85 – 33
 n = 2
W14.5
13.3 – 15.45
 n = 1414.6
13.4 – 15.65
 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
Temognatha mnizechii mnizechii  Distinctive features

Extraordinary black and red colouration; some SA specimens have weak bluish reflections.

Notes

Occurs with Temognatha heros and T. stevensii in major emergence events but in much lower numbers, and it is more timid and faster-flying than those species. Reaches its eastern limit on Yorke Peninsula, represented by an 1879 collection of Tepper.

Distribution
SA Regions¹:  NU,  EP,  YP
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 Temognatha mnizechii mnizechii  (total actual records: 61 beetles)
1
32 4 1 3
15 5
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)
Adult host plants
beetles sites SA regions¹ family position on host plant
Eucalyptus leptophylla518NU, EPM
Eucalyptus sp.114EP, YPM
Melaleuca lanceolata112EPM
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
M Myrtaceae 73 100% 2
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on flower(s)449
on flowering plant32
on plant (unspecified)245
other
  hovering over21
Lure affinity
colour beetles sites SA regions¹
blue32EP
Host plant notes

Tepper's statement of five Temognatha species (including this one) breeding in three Eucalyptus species is taken as a general supposition, and is not interpreted to mean that he had found breeding evidence for all five of his species in each of the Eucalypts.

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.