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

Belonging to the genus Neospades, family Buprestidae, these are one of the beautiful named Jewel Beetle species found in Australia. There are 11 native species recognised in Australia.

Neospades sp, Epenarra NT © Emma Baru Tyunpe Skyba
Neospades sp, Epenarra NT © Emma Skyba

The following are thought to be species Neospades chrysopygia.

Neospades sp, Epenarra NT © Emma Baru Tyunpe Skyba
Neospades chrysopygia, Epenarra NT © Emma Skyba
Neospades sp, Epenarra NT © Emma Baru Tyunpe Skyba
Neospades chrysopygia, Epenarra NT © Emma Skyba
Neospades sp, Epenarra NT © Emma Baru Tyunpe Skyba
Neospades chrysopygia, Epenarra NT © Emma Skyba

The following was found on the flower of Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum) in the Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs, Northern Territory.

The flowers of the Sturt’s Desert Rose (Gossypium sturtianum var. sturtianum) in the Olive Pink Botanic Garden, are pretty popular with the Neospades sp.

Neospades sp (possibly Neospades chrysopygia), Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs NT
Neospades sp., Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs NT
Neospades sp (possibly Neospades chrysopygia), Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs NT
Neospades sp., Olive Pink Botanic Garden, Alice Springs NT

  • 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: Neospades
  • Species:
    • Neospades chrysopygia (Germar, 1848)
    • Neospades cruciata (Fabricius, 1775)
    • Neospades cupricauda Carter, 1927
    • Neospades cuprifera (Gestro, 1877)
    • Neospades lateralis Blackburn, 1888
    • Neospades nigroaenea (Kerremans, 1898)
    • Neospades picta Carter, 1923
    • Neospades rugiceps (Thomson, 1879)
    • Neospades simplex Blackburn, 1888
    • Neospades terraereginae (Obenberger, 1919)
    • Neospades viridis (Kerremans, 1898)

Footnote & References

  1. Many thanks for ID to Emma Baru Tyunpe Skyba from Alice Springs Field Naturalists Club, Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/alicefieldnats/
  2. Calosoma (Australodrepa) oceanicum Perroud & Montrouzier, 1865, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/0d536e9a-46d5-4f5e-b1a4-ed7c0cfa98c7
  3. Neospades Blackburn, 1887, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/61de7ea6-84ac-4f7e-a024-149bd9658b1b#overview
  4. Neospades chrysopygia (Germar, 1848), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/542a82bd-a792-4e1b-ba8b-e0bce2a344ea

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