small pintail beetle

Description:

This small pintail beetle was about 5mm long. Mostly black, it had small elongated white patches on its elytra. Thorax also had vertical white stripes. The rear end was elongated to a short sharp pintail.

Habitat:

Eucalyptus leaf - nature reserve

Notes:

I am not able to identify this little pintail. Could be Tomoxioda species which appears to be the only other species of pintails (Mordellid beetles) in Australia. These beetles are also called tumbling flower beetles as they appear to "tumble" down when disturbed - the tumbling is actually a series of short jumps..