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Chrysolopus spectabilis
About 20mm body length. Striking blue/green on black patterns.
Started off on the tip of a prickly acacia but after one shot it fell to the ground pretending to be dead (pic3). In a local nature reserve on Acacia verticillata (Prickly Moses).
After checking images elsewhere in Australia it seems the locals have thick socks on. Another one protected by the local prickly acacia. The colours seemed to change sometimes more green and sometimes blue and under flash it even showed as white.
Discovered during James Cook's first voyage it became the first insect described from Australia.
Thanks Mac for the ID.
family: CURCULIONIDAE
subfamily: Cyclominae
tribe: Aterpini
genus: Chrysolopus
species: Chrysolopus spectabilis
Distribution in Australia...
http://spatial.ala.org.au/?q=lsid:%22urn...
Yes a pleasant surprise to me too Mac. Maybe after the last 40 days of heat they'll all come down here.
Thanks Cindy, Martin. A very pleasant surprise to find this one locally as I always thought it was only a northener.
Nice shot Mark. I have not seen these for several years when I found dozens on the same acacia tree on a mountain top. This was the first insect described by Captain Cook's crew (I think it was Joseph Banks) when they came to visit Botany Bay in Sydney. There is the connection to one of its common names :)
Thanks Mac. I thought that might be it but hadn't checked the range for this part of Aus. Looks good. Pam you said it well - they are like little elephants or piggies - uglycute. I think their eyes are always nice - big dark and shiny.
Spotted on Feb 16, 2014
Submitted on Feb 16, 2014
