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Project Noah Nature School
Chrysomelidae family
A metallic blue bug about 10mm long. The last photo is a bit scary - reminds me of the movie Aliens!
Spotted on Mar 11, 2012
Submitted on Mar 12, 2012
6 Comments
It certainly has the femurs for a flea beetle but it's huge... and you're right about the third shot - frightening. Maybe Alticini... (5000 species known)
I've finally found another photo of this beetle online! Unfortunately they don't know the species either: http://www.ozanimals.com/Insect/Leaf-Bee...
They state that males are black and females are metallic blue so looks like I found a female.
It looks very similar to the picture you posted of the Green dock beetle, but as far as I can see it is only found in Europe - so I need to find an Australian equivalent!
Same like here...
http://mobugs.blogspot.in/2010/04/bright...
Antennas and Abdomen like of a Blister beetle.
Especially like the third shot