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Peltoschema orphana
Belongs to the worl-wide represented group of Coleoptrans, Chrysomelidae: Chrysomelinae. No common name so we will go with Striped Acacia Leaf Beetle. Females measure 8mm and males 6mm and are predominately green with longitudinal stripes of browns and whites. Three broad brown on each side of the elytra, one in the middle and a narrow on each side of the centre. The male patterning seems to be, perhaps, a little darker/denser.
Exclusively(?) on Acacia dealbata Silver Wattle. The copse of A. dealbata where I observe the species also has A. mearnsii and Eucalyptus leucoxylon present. They are planted specimens, not natural, and they do not inhabit all specimens of A. dealbata.
These last records to date are on 31 May 2013 and surprises me that they are still there, considering the cold days we have had. They were also observed mating on this day.
Spotted on May 31, 2013
Submitted on May 31, 2013
6 Comments
I will certainly be keeping an eye out for them at any rate - no leaf left unturned, gently!
Oops just noticed plenty in Tas.
You might be right KD. ALA has all in southern Vic except for one just over the border in SA.
I've not come across these before. Have they been found in other locations/other states that you know of? Nice pics.
These are sometimes very common and are called the fireblight beetle in some references http://www.strathewenlandcare.org.au/p.p...
http://www.flickr.com/photos/66925960@N0... It comes with another genus name (Pyrgoides) which is a synonym. http://lifeunseen.com/index2_list_505.ph...
Good shots of a small species.