Buprestidae of South Australia
( Jewel beetles )
by Peter J. Lang
Neocuris cf. viridimicans   Fairmaire, 1877
subfamily  Buprestinae » tribe  Curidini » subtribe  Neocurina
Neocuris cf. viridimicans   Adult images
Neocuris cf. viridimicans, PL1424B, male, from Melaleuca lanceolata, EP, 6.5 × 2.8 mm Neocuris cf. viridimicans, PL1424A, female, from Melaleuca lanceolata, EP, 6.8 × 2.9 mm Neocuris cf. viridimicans, from Eucalyptus sp., PL3203 & PL3194 & PL3201, MU Neocuris cf. viridimicans, PL1420, on Melaleuca lanceolata, EP Neocuris cf. viridimicans, PL1420, on Melaleuca lanceolata, EP Neocuris cf. viridimicans, PL1429A, on Melaleuca lanceolata, EP
Actual
size¹:
6.1 mm
×
2.6 mm
Measurements (mm)
malefemale
L15.9
5 – 6.95
 n = 126.4
5.75 – 7.3
 n = 9
L25.6
4.8 – 6.7
 n = 105.5
5.5 – 5.6
 n = 2
W2.5
2.1 – 3
 n = 122.7
2.3 – 3
 n = 9
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 cf. viridimicans  Distinctive features

Ovoid body shape, extreme lustre, the small head relative to the pronotum, and a narrow aedeagus distinguish it from Neocuris sp. Dark green. The colour is variable but green forms predominate.

Notes

The type specimen of Neocuris viridimicans Fairmaire 1877b is from King George Sound near Albany in WA and resides in the Museum National d'Histoire Naturelle in Paris (MNHP). Until that specimen is examined, there is some uncertainty as to whether the name N. viridimicans correctly applies to this species or to something else (such as N. sp. Dark green). However, its application to this taxon is supported by the observation of Fairmaire 1877b that N. viridimicans is 'remarkable for the smallness of its head'. In SA this taxon has sometimes been confused with N. sp. Dark green but is easily recognised by its distinctive aedeagus and later emergence/activity period .

A summer-emerging species that is widely distributed in drier mallee areas.

Distribution
SA Regions¹:  GT,  FR,  NL,  MU
Australian States:  WA,  SA,  VIC,  NSW
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 cf. viridimicans  (total of 204 beetles)
1
3
1 11 42
92 14 40
Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun
Legend
live emerged adults, count > median value of 14 per quarter month
live emerged adults, count <= median value of 14
live non-emerged adults only, for that quarter month
12
number of active beetles for that quarter month
Adult host plants
beetles sites SA regions¹ family position on host plant
Eucalyptus leptophylla11312EP, MUM
Melaleuca lanceolata538EPM
Eucalyptus sp.84EP, NL, MUM
Eucalyptus phenax ssp. phenax81EPM
Eucalyptus dumosa73EP, MUM
Eucalyptus gracilis51EPM
Eucalyptus yalatensis42EPM
Eucalyptus socialis ssp. socialis22MUM
Eucalyptus socialis21EPM
Eucalyptus gypsophila11GTM
Eucalyptus oleosa11MUM
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 204 100% 10
Position on adult host
positionbeetlessites
on flower(s)6812
on flowering plant13622
Host plant notes

Adults are found in the blossoms of a wide range of summer-flowering mallee Eucalyptus species, as well as Melaleuca lanceolata.

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.