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

Melobasis is a genus of beetles in the family Buprestidae, that have 131 described species.

Melobasis sp, Girraween NP QLD © Marc Newman
Melobasis sp, Girraween NP QLD © Marc Newman

The following photo compiled from a stack of 30 photos taken using a Canon 7D and Canon 100mm macro lens controlled by DSLR Remote Pro for Mac and combined using Helicon Focus on an iMac.

Melobasis sp, Girraween NP QLD © Michael Jefferies
Melobasis sp, Girraween NP QLD © Michael Jefferies
Melobasis andersoni
Melobasis andersoni, Perth WA © Mark Hanlon
Melobasis andersoni, Perth WA © Mark Hanlon
Melobasis burnsi and Melobasis amoena

The following two Melobasis species were from north of Kalgoorlie on thin leaf Acacia.

Melobasis burnsi (top) and Melobasis amoena, Nth of Kalgoorlie WA © Mark Hanlon
Melobasis burnsi (top) and Melobasis amoena, Nth of Kalgoorlie WA © Mark Hanlon
Melobasis gratiosissima

Melobasis gratiosissima (female) Found across Australia on fine leaf Acacias in summer. They are quite small.. maybe 7 mm.

Melobasis gratiosissima, Ravensthorpe WA © Mark Hanlon
Melobasis gratiosissima, Ravensthorpe WA © Mark Hanlon
Melobasis gratiosissima, Ravensthorpe WA © Mark Hanlon
Melobasis gratiosissima, Ravensthorpe WA © Mark Hanlon
Melobasis purpurascens
Melobasis purpurascens, Murrumba Downs QLD © Tony Eales
Melobasis purpurascens, Murrumba Downs QLD © Tony Eales
Melobasis purpurascens, Murrumba Downs QLD © Tony Eales
Melobasis purpurascens, Murrumba Downs QLD © Tony Eales
Melobasis purpurascens, Murrumba Downs QLD © Tony Eales
Melobasis purpurascens, Murrumba Downs QLD © Tony Eales
  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Buprestoidea
  • Family: Buprestidae
  • Subfamily: Buprestinae
  • Tribe: Melobasini
  • Subtribe: Melobasina
  • Genus: Melobasis
  • Species:
    • Melobasis amoena
    • Melobasis andersoni
    • Melobasis burnsi
    • Melobasis gratiosissima
    • Melobasis purpurascens

      Atlas of Living Australia have listed 131 species (as of 22 December 2023)

Footnote & References

  1. Photograph, Melobasis sp © Marc Newman
  2. Photograph stack, Melobasis sp © Michael Jefferies
  3. Photographs, Melobasis andersoni, Melobasis gratiosissima © Mark Hanlon
  4. Photograph Melobasis burnsi & Melobasis amoena © Mark Hanlon
  5. Photographs Melobasis purpurascens © Tony Eales
  6. Photograph, Melobasis burnsi / Melobasis amoena © Mark Hanlon
  7. Melobasis purpurascens
  8. Melobasis Laporte & Gory, 1837, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/74898816-1534-4659-bd93-95585b914665

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