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 Lycidae Neospades sp Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

From the genus Pterohelaeus, this beetle is a member of a group often referred to as the Blue Pie-dish Beetles. Members of this group vary from a dusty blue-grey-black to a more obvious blue, unlike the genus Helea group of beetles who are nearly always black.

Blue Pie-dish Beetle (Pterohelaeus sp), Alice Springs NT
Blue Pie-dish Beetle (Pterohelaeus sp), Alice Springs NT
Blue Pie-dish Beetle (Pterohelaeus sp), Alice Springs NT
Blue Pie-dish Beetle (Pterohelaeus sp), Alice Springs NT
Blue Pie-dish Beetle (Pterohelaeus sp), Alice Springs NT
Blue Pie-dish Beetle (Pterohelaeus sp), Alice Springs NT

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Tenebrionoidea
  • Family: Tenebrionidae
  • Informal: Tenebrionoid branch
  • Subfamily: Tenebrioninae
  • Tribe: Heleini
  • Subtribe: Heleina
  • Genus: Pterohelaeus

Footnote & References

  1. Many thanks for ID to Vrata Noviny member of Australasian Beetles Only, Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1180404322409639/
  2. Pterohelaeus Brême, 1842, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Pterohelaeus
  3. Blue Pie-dish Beetles (Genus Pterohelaeus), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/489951-Pterohelaeus
  4. Blue Pie-dish Beetles Genus Pterohelaeus, ausemade, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/190564452
  5. Pie-dish Beetles, Australian Museum, https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/pie-dish-beetles/

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 Lycidae Neospades sp 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