Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Hypocisseis sp. Western  
subfamily  Agrilinae » tribe  Coraebini » subtribe  Cisseina
Hypocisseis sp. Western   Adult images (last updated: 13 Feb 2025)
Hypocisseis sp. Western, PL3475, male, on Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima, NU, 6.2 km ESE Ooldea RS, 27 Dec 2015, 9.0 × 3.8 mm Hypocisseis sp. Western, PL3475, male, on Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima, NU, 6.2 km ESE Ooldea RS, 27 Dec 2015, 9.0 × 3.8 mm Hypocisseis sp. Western, PL3475, male, on Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima, NU, 6.2 km ESE Ooldea RS, 27 Dec 2015, 9.0 × 3.8 mm Hypocisseis sp. Western, PL4099, male, EP, 19.4 km E Buckleboo, 26 Dec 2017, 7.4 × 3.0 mm Hypocisseis sp. Western, PL3475, male, on Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima, NU, 6.2 km ESE Ooldea RS, 27 Dec 2015, 9.0 × 3.8 mm Hypocisseis sp. Western, PL3475, male, on Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima, NU, 6.2 km ESE Ooldea RS, 27 Dec 2015, 9.0 × 3.8 mm Hypocisseis sp. Western, PL3475, male, on Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima, NU, 6.2 km ESE Ooldea RS, 27 Dec 2015, 9.0 × 3.8 mm Hypocisseis sp. Western, PL6245A, male, on Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima, EP, 26.6 km NW Port Augusta, 14 Dec 2024, 8.5 × 3.5 mm Hypocisseis sp. Western, PL6245A, male, on Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima, EP, 26.6 km NW Port Augusta, 14 Dec 2024, 8.5 × 3.5 mm Hypocisseis sp. Western, PL6245A, PL6245B, male, on Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima, EP, 26.6 km NW Port Augusta, 14 Dec 2024 Hypocisseis sp. Western, PL6245A, PL6245B, male, on Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima, EP, 26.6 km NW Port Augusta, 14 Dec 2024
Actual
size¹:
8.4 mm
×
3.5 mm
Measurements (mm)
malefemale
L18.1
7.35 – 9
 n = 59.8
 n = 1
L28.0
7.25 – 8.95
 n = 59.7
 n = 1
W3.3
3 – 3.75
 n = 54.2
 n = 1
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
Hypocisseis sp. Western  Distinctive features

Like H. suturalis but differing in its more rounded body shape, the pronotum bulbous and very convex in lateral view, more bronze colouration, elytra with the posterior band of dense white scale-hairs more fragmented, abdominal ventrites with coppery-golden reflections, and a distinctively shaped aedeagus that is less flat and more darkly-coloured.

Notes

There are a number of names already published for taxa allied to H. suturalis but their application is uncertain at present.

Distribution
SA Regions¹:  NU,  EP
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 Hypocisseis sp. Western  (total actual records: 6 beetles)
4 2
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 > 3 (mean)
actual count <= 3 (mean)
Adult host plants
beetles sites SA regions¹ family position on host plant
Dodonaea viscosa ssp. angustissima52NU, EPS
Melaleuca uncinata11EPM
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 Sapindaceae 5 83% 1
M Myrtaceae 1 17% 1
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on foliage or non-flowering plant63
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.