Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Castiarina eyrensis   (Barker, 1986)
subfamily  Buprestinae » tribe  Stigmoderini » subtribe  Stigmoderina
Castiarina  species group: gibbicollis
Castiarina eyrensis   Adult images
Castiarina eyrensis, PL2568, on Acacia papyrocarpa, EP, 14.6 × 5.4 mm Castiarina eyrensis, PL2568, female, on Acacia papyrocarpa, EP, 14.6 × 5.4 mm Castiarina eyrensis, PL2568, female, on Acacia papyrocarpa, EP, 14.6 × 5.4 mm Castiarina eyrensis, PL2568, female, from Acacia papyrocarpa, EP, 14.6 × 5.4 mm Castiarina eyrensis, PL2570, female, on Acacia papyrocarpa, EP, 13.3 × 4.9 mm Castiarina eyrensis, PL2570, female, on Acacia papyrocarpa, EP, 13.3 × 4.9 mm Castiarina eyrensis, adult host plant, Acacia papyrocarpa, EP Castiarina eyrensis, adult host plant, Acacia papyrocarpa, EP Castiarina eyrensis, adult host plant, Acacia papyrocarpa, EP
Actual
size¹:
13.2 mm
×
4.8 mm
Measurements (mm)
malefemale
L112.8
12.45 – 13.15
 n = 213.5
11.65 – 14.6
 n = 4
L212.7
12.3 – 13.05
 n = 213.2
11.55 – 14.4
 n = 4
W4.5
4.45 – 4.6
 n = 25.0
4.45 – 5.35
 n = 4
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

Possibly endemic to Eyre Peninsula in SA, from which it takes its name. Known records are confined to that area, although its host plant, Western Myall Acacia papyrocarpa is much more widespread and extends into a large portion of WA. Castiarina eyrensis appears to be linked to the flowering of its host in spring, and has yellow colouration matching the Acacia blossoms. As an arid zone species, Western Myalls are very hardy and extremely long-lived trees that can flower regularly in areas where rainfall is unreliable.

Distribution
SA Regions¹:  EP
Australian States:  SA
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 Castiarina eyrensis  (total actual records: 38 beetles)
25
2 5 6
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 > 5.5 (median)
actual count <= 5.5 (median)
Adult host plant
beetles sites SA regions¹ family position on host plant
Acacia papyrocarpa376EPF
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 37 100% 1
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on flower(s)61
on flowering plant22
on plant (unspecified)232
other
  on stem61
Host plant notes

Barker 1986 noted the association of this species with Western Myall Acacia papyrocarpa and later (Barker 2006a) with its flowers in particular. The evidence for this adult host specificity has been reinforced by subsequent collections.

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.