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 Buprestidae Index Jewel Beetles Astraeus Calodema plebeia Calotemognatha Castiarina Cyrioides Diadoxus Diphucrania Hypocisseis suturalis Julodimorpha saundersii Melobasis Merimna atrata Metaxymorpha grayii Metaxymorpha gloriosa Stigmodera Temognatha Torresita cuprifera

ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Blackburnium cavicolle Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Neospades sp Lycidae Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

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