Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Melobasis angustecostata cf. subacuta  
subfamily  Buprestinae » tribe  Melobasini » subtribe  Melobasina
Melobasis  species group: nervosa
Melobasis angustecostata cf. subacuta   Adult images
Melobasis angustecostata cf. subacuta, PL1583, female, on Acacia ligulata, LE, 16.2 × 5.4 mm Melobasis angustecostata cf. subacuta, PL1582A, female, on Acacia ligulata, LE, 16.7 × 5.6 mm Melobasis angustecostata cf. subacuta, PL1582A, female, on Acacia ligulata, LE, 16.7 × 5.6 mm Melobasis angustecostata cf. subacuta, PL1582A, female, on Acacia ligulata, LE, 16.7 × 5.6 mm Melobasis angustecostata cf. subacuta, PL1582B, male, from Acacia ligulata, LE, 12.4 × 4.0 mm Melobasis angustecostata cf. subacuta, PL1582B, male, from Acacia ligulata, aedeagus, LE, 12.4 × 4.0 mm Melobasis angustecostata cf. subacuta, PL1582A, on Acacia ligulata, LE, 16.7 × 5.6 mm
Actual
size¹:
15.1 mm
×
5.0 mm
Measurements (mm)
malefemale
L112.4
 n = 116.4
16.2 – 16.7
 n = 2
W4.0
 n = 15.5
5.4 – 5.6
 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
Melobasis angustecostata cf. subacuta  Distinctive features

This form approaches Melobasis angustecostata subacuta of Levey 2018 in the elytra strongly narrowing in the apical third to acute apices and having coppery reflections. However these features are less pronounced in the male specimen and the aedeagus is closer to that of the typical subspecies.

Notes

The occurrences plot just within the southern margin of the LE Region are associated with outwash from the adjoining slopes of the northern end of the Flinders Ranges. M. angustecostata subacuta is a geographically defined subspecies confined to WA. Levey 2018 notes that M. angustecostata 'shows considerable external variation but the aedeagus of all dissected specimens except for those of M. angustecostata subacuta are the same as in the type series'. The forms illustrated here may represent an undescribed sibling species or subspecies (Levey, 2020, pers. comm.) and require further investigation.

Distribution
SA Regions¹:  LE
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 Melobasis angustecostata cf. subacuta  (total actual records: 3 beetles)
3
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 (median)
actual count <= 3 (median)
Adult host plant
beetles sites SA regions¹ family position on host plant
Acacia ligulata31LEF
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 3 100% 1
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on foliage or non-flowering plant31
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.