DiphucraniaDiphucrania duodecimmaculata Diphucrania leucosticta

— see Diphucrania broomensis | Diphucrania opima | Diphucrania stigmata

Diphucrania leucosticta, whose common names include White Spotted Jewel Beetle and White-flecked Acacia Jewel Beetle, is one of the over 200 species in the genus Diphucrania.

At 13-16 mm long, Diphucrania leucosticta is one of the largest and most widespread species of Diphucrania (there are over 200 species in Australia). They have been observed in Perth, Western Australia, across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland.

It is generally found on Acacia leaves in the southern states and emerges in February/March (earlier as you go further north).

Diphucrania leucosticta (Jewel Beetle), Karawatha Forest / Brisbane QLD © Hongming Kan
Diphucrania leucosticta (Jewel Beetle) © Hongming Kan
Diphucrania leucosticta (Jewel Beetle), Karawatha Forest / Brisbane QLD © Hongming Kan
Diphucrania leucosticta (Jewel Beetle), Karawatha Forest / Brisbane QLD © Hongming Kan
Diphucrania leucosticta (Jewel Beetle), Karawatha Forest / Brisbane QLD © Hongming Kan
Diphucrania leucosticta (Jewel Beetle), Karawatha Forest / Brisbane QLD © Hongming Kan
Diphucrania leucosticta (Jewel Beetle), Karawatha Forest / Brisbane QLD © Hongming Kan
Diphucrania leucosticta (Jewel Beetle), Karawatha Forest / Brisbane QLD © Hongming Kan
Diphucrania leucosticta (Jewel Beetle), Karawatha Forest / Brisbane QLD © Hongming Kan
Diphucrania leucosticta (Jewel Beetle), Karawatha Forest / Brisbane QLD © Hongming Kan
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Buprestoidea
  • Family: Buprestidae
  • Subfamily: Agrilinae
  • Tribe: Coraebini
  • Subtribe Cisseina
  • Genus: Diphucrania
  • Species: Diphucrania leucosticta

Footnote & References

  1. Diphucrania leucosticta. Photographs © Hongming Kan
  2. Many thanks to Mark Hanlon for ID and information, member of Australasian Beetles Only, Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1180404322409639/
  3. Diphucrania leucosticta (Kirby, 1818), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https:/biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/8c01d140-5b21-4efc-ab92-a3e78c7bbce5
  4. Diphucrania leucosticta, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/628938-Diphucrania-leucosticta
  5. Diphucrania leucosticta (Kirby, 1818), by Peter J. Lang, Buprestidae of South Australia (Jewel beetles), https://syzygium.xyz/buprestidae/species.php?species=Diphucrania_leucosticta

DiphucraniaDiphucrania duodecimmaculata Diphucrania leucosticta

BuprestidaeMore Buprestidae Jewel Beetles Astraeus Calodema plebeia Castiarina Cyrioides Diadoxus Diphucrania Melobasis Merimna atrata Metaxymorpha gloriosa Stigmodera Temognatha Torresita cuprifera

ColeopteraAmarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Buprestidae Cerambycidae Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Digitonthophagus gazella Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Johannica gemellata (Pandorea Leaf Beetle) Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Neospades sp Lycidae Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Pittosporum Leaf Beetle (Lamprolina impressicollis) Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera (True Bugs) Mango Planthopper Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Syrphidae Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub