Ellura Sanctuary, Swan Reach, SA, 5354
                      
It's possible 20 different species can look identical (needing dissection to differentiate); as such many id's here don't go to species level
Stat'
Notes
Thumbnails: 1632.   295 native species (9 introduced) listed, with 237 natives (6 introduced) from Ellura
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Cockroaches (Blattodea); 18 species, 15 from Ellura - Giant Cockroach (Blaberidae); 2 species from Ellura
Clear Rimmed Native Cockroach
Calolampra sp ES01


iNaturalist
Na
e m a f r
The 1st two specimens were recorded on the same day at Ellura.
Notice the 3rd specimen (Adelaide Hills) has more transparent edges, and a black streak down the side.
All 3 specimens have different ventral patterns on their abdomen. We're not sure if these are different species or variations on the same species.
Also notice the white face markings, these are not reflections but white pigment
~21mm long
Imaged 5 in Sep(1), Oct(1), Nov(1) & Dec(2)
S1, Male, dorsal
S1, Male, ventral
S2, Male, profile
S2, Male, face
S2, Male, ventral
S3, Male, dorsal
S3, Male, ventral
Bark Cockroach
Laxta sp
Na
e m a
Imaged 2 in Sep(1) & Nov(1)
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Cockroaches (Blattodea); 18 species, 15 from Ellura - Cockroach (Blattidae); 9 species, 7 from Ellura
Oriental Cockroach
Blatta orientalis
If
a
Imaged 1 in Oct
Shining Cockroach
Drymaplaneta communis


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us

Females ~13 to ~26mm long, smaller than Males at ~27mm to ~32mm.
From the iNat link you'll find Matthew Connors gives a great description of the difference between some Drymaplaneta sp. and this species.
On there he shows how the back legs of males are important to separate the species (normal legs for D. communis, very wide rear legs for D. semivitta).
We have only found Drymaplaneta communis males, but it's possible the females may be D. semivitta (regionally introduced from WA).
S14 is notable in that the white band follows all the way round the edge and joins at the rear end. This possibly indicates she's a different species. Of S14, Matthew said "Yes I think tentatively these are D. communis. I have not heard of or seen any D. semivitta with white on the abdomen"
Imaged 15(3M,12F) in Jan(2:1M,1F), Feb(1F), Mar(1F), Apr(2F), Jun(1F), Aug(1F), Sep(1F), Oct(2:1M,1F), Nov(2F) & Dec(2:1M,1F)
S5, Male, dorsal
S9, Female, dorsal
S10, Female, dorsal
🔍S14, Female, dorsal
S9, Female, dorsal, close
🔍S9, Female, Shining
🔍S14, Female, Cerci
🔍S14, Female, Eye
Tortoise Cockroach
Euzosteria cf subreflexa
Na
e m
Imaged 2 in Sep(1) & Oct(1)
Dorsal, ~14mm long
Anterior
Ventral
Black Cockroach
Platyzosteria sp ES01
Na
e m
Imaged 2 in Jul(1) & Aug(1)
Dorsal
Profile, front
Profile, back
Rear, cercus
Mallee Woodland Cockroach
Platyzosteria sp ES02


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Matthew Connors for identifying this species for us

This is the biggest cockroach we've every seen! 48mm long!!! Also it's a male and the females are usually larger!
Matthew said "Completely apterous + angles of ninth tergite sharp + tarsal claws strongly asymmetrical + femoral comb well-developed"
Imaged 2(2M,1J) in Jun(1:1M,1J) & Nov(1M)
🔍Male, dorsal
🔍Male, profile
🔍Male, Face
🔍Male, Head & Eyes
🔍Male, Posterior, dorsal
🔍Male, Posterior, ventral
🔍Male, Legs, ventral
🔍Male, Abdomen, ventral
Mitchell's Diurnal Cockroach
Polyzosteria mitchelli


iNaturalist
Na
m
Thank you Djari Sabutaro for confirming the id of this species for us

~10mm Nymph.
Another large cockroach in adult form. Very bright yellow stripes.
This was found by the Bioblitz team at Yookamurra Sanctuary.
Imaged 1J in May
🔍Nymph, dorsal
🔍Nymph, profile
🔍Nymph, close up
🔍Nymph, Antenna
🔍Nymph, posterior
Small Cockroach
Temnelytra sp
Na
e m
Imaged 2 in Mar(1) & Apr(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Desert Mid-lined Cockroach
Zonioploca medilinea


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you David Rentz & Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Record in SA on Atlas:
David says in his book "A distinctive species: No other has a single midline stripe".
Imaged 13(3J) in Jan(1), Mar(3), Apr(2), Aug(1J), Sep(2:1J), Oct(1), Nov(2:1J) & Dec(1)
Adult
White-banded Cockroach
Zonioploca sp ES01


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~13mm long female, ~15mm long male. Normally females are larger. This is possibly individual variation.
Used to think these were Zonioploca latizona, based on the images in Rentz's book, but it's WAY too small. Z. latizona females are ~23mm. They also have a ventrally yellow thorax, unlike the black here. Other differences include the entirely red legs and black head & face of these.
Imaged 3(2M,1F) in Aug(1F), Oct(1M) & Dec(1M)
S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S3, Female, dorsal
S1, Male, profile
🔍S3, Female, profile
🔍S3, Female, Antenna
🔍S3, Female, Head
🔍S3, Female, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Cockroaches (Blattodea); 18 species, 15 from Ellura - Wood Cockroach (Ectobiidae); 6 species, 5 from Ellura
Brown Balta Cockroach
Balta sp ES01
Na
e m
Imaged 3 in Mar(1), Apr(1) & May(1)
Western Ectoneura Cockroach
Ectoneura tepperi


iNaturalist
Na
e m
1st Live Photo on-line
Imaged 2 in Apr(1) & May(1)
Small Golden Cockroach
Ellipsidion sp
Na
e m
Imaged 1 in Oct
Dorsal
Profile
Elytra
Antennae
Ventral
The Coulon
Paratemnopteryx couloniana
Na
e m a
Other Common NameRed Goblin Roach

~22mm long
Imaged 7(1M,2F) in Jan(2) & Nov(5:1M,2F)
Covered in moth scales
Desert Para Cockroach
Paratemnopteryx sp
Na
a
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & Oct(1)
Net-wing Cockroach
Stenectoneura cf margarita


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
~7.5mm long. Note the very clear pronotum shield & elytra. A very small, thin cockroach with large cerci. Also note the pale band on the head, with black face.
Imaged 3 in Feb(1), Mar(1) & May(1)
🔍S3, dorsal
🔍S3, profile
🔍S3, close up
🔍S3, Pronotum Pattern
🔍S3, Rolled Wingtips
S3, Black Face
🔍S3, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Cockroaches (Blattodea); 18 species, 15 from Ellura - Termite (Termitoidae); 1 species from Ellura
Termite
Termitoidae sp
Na
e m a
Other Common NameWhite Ant

These have now been placed in the Cockroach order Blattodea.
Imaged 18 in Jan(1), Aug(2), Sep(3), Oct(4), Nov(5) & Dec(3)
Worker
Colony (found when splitting firewood)
Alate (Winged breeding termites)
Alate (Showing 4 wings)
Alate (dropped it's wings)
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura
Beetles have mandible mouth parts. They also have their forwings hardened (called the Elytra).
Juvenile beeltes are larvae, all soft, looking nothing like their parents.
True Bugs, which can look similar, have a proboscis as their feeding apartus, and have membranous trailing forwings, only hardened at the front.
Juvenile hemipterans are similar to their parents, smaller with no wings, but often wing buds.
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Ant-like Flower Beetle (Anthicidae); 2 species from Ellura
Hairy Ant-like Flower Beetle
Anthicidae sp ES01


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

~3mm long. Notice the long notched antennae. Mark said his id was a bit tentative.
Imaged 4 in Feb(2), Mar(1) & Nov(1)
Dorsal
Brown Ant-like Flower Beetle
Chileanthicus sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Augusto Degiovanni for identifying this species for us

At only ~3.5mm these are very small beetles and easily confused with ants to the naked eye.
Notice the interesting rear leg spurs; they can only be seen at certain angles.
Augusto also said "This genus was created by Werner 1966, before the species of this new genus were inserted in the Formicomus = Anthelephila. In 2009, Kejval revised the genus where in addition to having redescribed existing species, he also described 30 new species many of them from Australia."
Imaged 2 in Oct(1) & Nov(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Posterior
Side
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Diving Beetle (Aquatic: Dytiscidae); 4 species from Ellura
Orange Sutured Diving Beetle
Allodessus bistrigatus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~3mm long. The two indented lines, or sutures, along the top of it's shoulders from the pronotum to the elytra are diagnostic.
Imaged 3 in Mar(1), Apr(1) & Dec(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Padded Diving Beetle
Eretes australis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura & Saida Noor for confirming the id of this species for us

After the heaviest rainfall since June 2019, we found a large number of these in early Feb 2020.
The males have padded feet, shown here, used to hold onto the female when mating.
The female we measured was slightly smaller than the male, with the female being ~13mm & the male being ~15mm. There did seem to be a lot of size variation in specimens we saw.
They can fly, and breath air, taking a bubble of air with them when diving to the bottom of a water source.
They are very fast swimmers. They have hair on their middle & hind legs that act link fins. When out of the water these hairs collapse into a row along the edge of each leg.
The patterning on their elytra seems to vary quite a bit, but there always seem to be a solid black mark about midway down the elytra, along with 2 or 3 rows of small black marks (mixed in with light & dark patches) that aren't very obvious in the live specimens.
Compared to other diving beetles, the head does seem more prominant/protrudes from the body. Pronotum shape is also useful to help with diagnostics. The male feet seem unusual, but are similar to some other diving beetles.
The Pictorial Guide to the Diving Beetles of SA says "A distinctive species, unusual in having the surface punctuation on the prothorax much smaller than on the wing cases.", which is quite obvious here.
Imaged 9(5M,3F) in Jan(2M), Feb(3:1M,2F), Mar(1M), Jun(1F), Jul(1) & Aug(1M)
Male, dorsal
Male, anterior
Male, profile
Male, Pad, dorsal
Male, Pad, profile
Male, Pads, ventral
Male, Legs, ventral
Female, Perimeter Hair
Female, Leg Hair underwater
Female, Punctuations
Female, Elytra Lifted to Fly Away
Female, Front Feet
Dead, dorsal
Dead, anterior
Female, Ventral
Green Diving Beetle
Onychohydrus scutellaris
Na
e m
Always amazes us how we find water born animals on Ellura; a semi-arid environment.
Unfortunately we found this one dead, but am happy to use it to help your identification process

~30mm long, with strange "flippers" on it's front legs.
Imaged 1M in Sep
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
"Fippers"
Ventral
Predacious Diving Beetle
Rhantus suturalis
Na
e m
~13mm long.
Found worldwide, and the first live diving beetle we've found.
Imaged 2 in Oct(1) & Dec(1)
Dorsal, in water
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Water Scavenger Beetle (Aquatic: Hydrophilidae); 2 species from Ellura
Dark Crawling Water Beetle
Enochrus sp ES02


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Matthew Pintar for confirming the id of this species for us

~5mm long.
Note the lack of hairs on the legs typically associated with water beetles. These can't swim, but crawl like an ordinary beetle.
Imaged 1 in Jun
🔍S1, dorsal
S1, profile
S1, anterior
S1, iso-view
S1, posterior
🔍S1 & S2, Two caught together
🔍S1, ventral
Thick-thighed Water Scavenger Beetle
Hydrophilus brevispina


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~30mm long.
Found 2 dead in the watertank overflow.
Very dark green, with very thick hind legs.
No significant punctuations that can be readily seen thru the detritus.
A very large triangular scutellum.
Surprisingly not related to Diving Beetles
Imaged 2 in Oct(1) & Nov(1)
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Face
🔍Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Large Auger Beetle (Bostrichidae); 1 species from Ellura
Twig Borer Beetle
Bostrychopsis jesuita


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Adam Yates for confirming the id of this species for us

A cylindrical black beetle. ~13mm long, with a downward pointing face (reminiscent of a broad-nosed weevil). Distinctive 2 rows of horns on it's pronotum.
Imaged 4 in Feb(2), Oct(1) & Dec(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Antennae
Horns
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Jewel Beetle (Buprestidae); 7 species, 5 from Ellura
Tree-top Jewel Beetle
Castiarina alternozona


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

~20mm long. Has a golden lustre to the pronotum. Blue sheen under, and the obvious red on black stripes above.
This is one specimen, found dead back in Jan 2010. However, rephotographed it this year to publish on here. However, it's become very dirty over those 10 years; so have used the best of both photo sets.
Peter Lang on his web site says "This is a seldom-encountered species endemic to SA and largely confined to the higher rainfall areas with Stringybark forests in the southern Mt Lofty Ranges, and to southern Kangaroo Island. The scarcity of specimens may be due in part to it feeding out of reach in tree canopies."
Mark said "A Buprestid that is extremely rarely encountered! An awesome find and a great specimen too!"
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & Apr(1)
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Anterior
🔍Ventral
Black-necked Jewel Beetle
Castiarina atricollis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Ralph Foster & Dr Peter Lang for confirming the id of this species for us

A small Jewel Beetle at ~12mm long.
It's exoskeleton is primarily purple! There can be some variation on pattern & shading of the yellow to orange with these. Import aspects to look for at the spikes on the trailing edge of the elytra & the shape of pronotum. The pronotum is quite barrel shaped here.
They also like certain plants, this one was found in Senna flowers.
Imaged 1 in Nov
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Pronotum
🔍Face
🔍Ventral
Chinnocks Jewel Beetle
Castiarina chinnocki


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Ralph Foster & Dr Peter Lang for confirming the id of this species for us

A small Jewel Beetle at ~11mm long.
It's exoskeleton is primarily gold, with green metallic legs & upper body!
These are quite hairy underneath compared with our other Castiarina Jewel Beetle.
This one was found in Sugarwood Flowers (Myoporum platycarpum)
Imaged 2 in Nov
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Anterior
🔍Body
🔍Vetral
Maroon-highlighted Jewel Beetle
Castiarina parallela


iNaturalist
Na
f
Thank you Anthony Paul for confirming the id of this species for us

As can be seen, this was found in a flowering Fringe-myrtle (Calytrix tetragona) bush. We didn't have a chance to capture, nor measure, it before it dropped out of sight.
Imaged 1 in Nov
🔍Dorsal
🔍In Nature
Bidentate-pronotum Jewel Beetle
Chrysobothris sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Stephan Gottwald for identifying and Dr Peter Lang & Joshua Basham for confirming the id of this species for us

~7.5mm long.
We confused this for a Melobasis sp. Superficially they are incredibly similar to the 2 Melobasis that we photographed. There are a lot of differences when you look more closely. The face is less hairy, antennae shorter, elytra more rugose, elytra quite pointy at the front, BUT most importantly about half the size of the other two.
To highlight the differences between this & Melobasis, Stephan said "The anterior femora have a noticeable inner spine" (it's visible in the antenna shot). Further Peter said "The shallowly depressed, differently-coloured fovae on the elytra (pinkish in the first image here) are characteristic of the genus."
Peter just contacted us to let us know he's assigned a moniker to these of Chrysobothris sp. Bidentate pronotum. He said "I was excited to find that it breeds in the roots of Westringia rigida where it is associated with root galls, although there is evidence that it must use at least one other genus as well ... Your specimen matches C. sp. Bidentate pronotum on a good number of traits ... These include: the weakly bilobed sides of the pronotum (seen best on the first image DSC02773E), the generally coppery coloured underside (DSC02778E), the rather simple puncturation on the front of the head (DSC02770E), and its relatively small size (c. 7.5 mm long) ... DSC02769E best shows the terminal ventral segment (apical abdominal ventrite). Based on that, I think your specimen is a male. The apex is shallowly incised between the tooth at each corner (in the female it seems to be slightly convex between the teeth). Also there is no sign of a median thickening ridge (associated with female) on any part of the centre line of that apical ventrite."
Imaged 1M in Jan
🔍S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, profile
🔍S1, Male, Anterior Femoral Inner Spine
🔍S1, Male, Face
🔍S1, Male, Antenna
🔍S1, Male, ventral
Metallic Jewel Beetle
Melobasis soror ssp soror


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Peter Lang for identifying, Mark Hura, Stephan Gottwald & Joel DuBois for confirming and Allen Sundholm OAM for helping with the id of this species for us

~12 to 14mm long.
They quickly dropped off the bush onto the ground when felt threatened.
Seems to have a metallic blue body.
We thought this was Melobasis propinqua but Allen indicated that there are several similar species requiring microscopic examination to separate to species. He also said "Melobasis propinqua does not have the distinct costae on the elytra, is more rounded generally, and is much more hirsute ventrally".
Stephan said "I think nervosa species-group".
Peter said "I think that this is the species that I treat as Melobasis sp. Senna on my website": Buprestidae of South Australia
As you can see, this Stephan's comment that it belongs in the nervosa species-group.
We Found 4 in two Senna artemisioides bushes during the day in Sept.
Imaged 2 in Sep
🔍Elytra Ridges
🔍Hairy Face
🔍Pronotum Shape
🔍Pronotum Punctuations
🔍Metallic Blue Body
Giant Jewel Beetle
Temognatha heros


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NamesLarge Jewel Beetle or Yellow Jewel Beetle

Thank you Martin Lagerwey, Mark Hura, Joshua Gan, Patrick Wake & Paul M Hutchinson for confirming the id of this species for us

Males we found were ~45-50mm long, while the female was ~54mm long.
A huge beetle, the biggest we've ever seen. They are reported to be up to 60 - 80mm long.
The female seemed to have slightly smaller antennae segments. Males have a darker patch on the front of the their pronotum; but we didn't find this very obvious.
It's interesting to note there are no obvious ocelli, yet they fly extremely well.
Notice the asymmetric venation in the elytra of S2 & S5.
We noted the front edge of the elytra on the males we found was quite angular; while on the one female was rounded. We thought this might be a gender variation. We discussed this with Peter Lang, who kindly examined 10 female & 10 male specimens and conclude "that the male/female difference you noted on the margin of the elytron (= 'epipleuron') was just an individual variant."; as all but one female he examined also had the angular 'epipleuron' (along with all males).
We also learnt a new term for the front margin of the elytron

Imaged 6(4M,2F) in Jan(1F) & Feb(5:4M,1F)
🔍S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, Close Up
🔍S2, Male, dorsal
🔍S3, Female, dorsal
🔍S4, Male, dorsal
🔍S5, Male, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, profile
🔍S2, Male, profile
🔍S3, Female, profile
🔍S4, Male, profile
🔍S5, Male, profile
🔍S3 & S5 Epipleuron Variation
🔍S1, Male, Antenna
🔍S3, Female, Face
🔍S4, Male, Face
🔍S1, Male, Hindwings
🔍S5, Male, Wings
🔍S5, Male, Abdomen
🔍S1, Male, Mandibles
🔍S1, Male, Feet
🔍S1, Male, Joint
🔍S1, Male, ventral
🔍S3, Female, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Soldier Beetle (Cantharidae); 3 species, 2 from Ellura
Orange-headed Soldier Beetle
Chauliognathus granulatus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
1st Live Photo on-line:
Notice the differences between the 2 species.
This one has broken black bands around the abdomen, the black marking on the back of the shield is quite different and it has orange legs (not black). This one also has orange head, not black.
Imaged 11(5M,6F) in Mar(9:3M,6F), Apr(1M) & May(1M)
🔍S1, Female, dorsal
🔍S2, Male, dorsal
🔍S8 & S9, Copulating Pair, dorsal
🔍S8, Female, dorsal
🔍S9, Male, dorsal
🔍S1, Female, profile
🔍S8, Female, profile
🔍S9, Male, profile
S8, Female, Face
🔍S9, Male, Face
S8, Female, posterior
S9, Male, posterior
🔍S8, Female, ventral
S9, Male, ventral
Black-headed Soldier Beetle
Chauliognathus sp ES01


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Not only do these have a black head, the elytra is also black. The other soldier beetles here have green elytra.
We had always thought S1 was a male due to the spot on it's pronotum; differentiating the genders. But we not think, due to body shape, it's a female. As such, this highlights the variability of the pronotum pattern with this genus.

Now you may wander why so many photo's are taken of insects copulating.
It's because it allows us to see differences in gender (both size and markings)
Here we are able to deduce the female is larger.

Notice all of these Chauliognathus sp have hairs growing out of the elytra.
Imaged 3(1M,2F) in Mar
🔍S1, Female, dorsal
🔍S2 & S3, Mating, dorsal
🔍S1, Female, profile
🔍S2 & S3, Mating, profile
🔍S1, Female, Head
🔍S3, Female, ventral
Pale-legged Soldier Beetle
Chauliognathus sp ES04


iNaturalist
Na
m
Imaged 1F in Mar
🔍Dorsal
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Ground Beetle (Carabidae); 18 species, 16 from Ellura
Ant-nest Beetle
Arthropterus sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NameFatihorn Beetle

Thank you Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

12-13mm long. A very distinctive honey brown beetle with very wide, thin, antennae.
It also has wide thin legs and elytra (wing covers) that are shorter than the body.
The are 3 pairs of protrusions around it's mouth; pincer like mandibles followed by increasingly larger adaptions (the Maxillary Palps & Labial Palps).
While not seen very often, they are probably a lot more common than the low number sightings suggest. They live in ant nests excreting chemicals that trick the ants into thinking they are queens. As such, the ants actually raise their offspring, all the while the beetle is feasting on the ants.
They are scientifically interesting due to the rapid rate in which they can adapt to new species of ants.
Due to the complex nature of ant pheromones, etc, we can guess that there is a separate species of Arthropterus for each species of ant.
Due to the size of this one, we can guess it's a parasite of Inch ants (Myrmecia sp).
Imaged 8 in Feb(2), Nov(3) & Dec(3)
Dorsal
🔍Dorsal
Profile (hairy elytra)
Profile (elytra up)
Antenna (thin x-section)
Pincer Mandibles
Maxillary & Labial Palps
Ventral
Green Ground Beetle
Carenum elegans


iNaturalist
Na
e m r
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

S1 was ~18mm & S2 ~22mm. S9 years later, ~21mm long.
We often find the colourful, metallic ground beeltes in pairs; with one larger than the other.
We guess the smaller is the male & larger the female. There are no external visual clues as to any difference apart from size that we can detect.
While they look ferocious we found they weren't at all aggressive. We wouldn't recommend people pick them up to test the theory; if they did bite we imagine it'd draw blood and be very painful.
We thought this was C. habitans. Mark said "Common and widespread species in riverland area of SA, NSW and Vic. Differs from C. habitans in more rounded prothorax, and elytra being more rounded on sides (habitans is almost parallel) and tapered much more evenly to the shoulders. Legs (particularly hind tibiae) much more slender in elegans than habitans."
Imaged 9 in Feb(1), Mar(1), Oct(4) & Nov(3)
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S2, dorsal
🔍S9, dorsal
🔍S2, profile
🔍S9, profile
🔍S2, anterior
🔍S9, Head, Mantibles & Antenna
🔍S2, posterior
🔍S2, ventral
Blue Ground Beetle
Carenum speciosum


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Connor Graham for confirming the id of this species for us

We found two of these dead near the caravan when we arrived one day.
Both looked identical, but quite different sizes. One being ~25mm long, with the smaller one (shown here) at ~20mm.
Imaged 2 in Feb
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Posterior
Ventral
Green Sheen Ground Beetle
Carenum subcyaneum
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

What first grabbed our attention to this black beetle was the bright green line all around it's circumference. As it turns out, it's whole body reflects green, but the lip around it's edge makes it look like a green line.
At first we thought it was a huge ant as it was moving pretty quickly across our camp ground.
Imaged 1 in May
Back
Profile
Head
Blue Waxy Ground Beetle
Cerotalis sp ES01
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

~16mm. One of the diagnostics of this genus is the single setae (hair) above the eye.
Notice the shallow central line on the pronotums, and blue/purple ventral colour.
Imaged 3 in Oct(1) & Dec(2)
S1, dorsal
S2, dorsal
S1, profile
S2, profile
S2, anterior
S2, ventral
Lined Waxy Ground Beetle
Cerotalis sp ES02
Na
e m
~17mm. Notice the deep, almost most cleft like, line down the centre of the pronotum; as well as the blue/purple ventral colour.
Imaged 2 in Nov(1) & Dec(1)
S1, dorsal
S2, profile
S2, Pronotum
S2, ventral
Black Waxy Ground Beetle
Cerotalis sp ES03
Na
e m
~14mm. One of the diagnostics of this genus is the single setae (hair) above the eye.
Apparantly "The genus urgently needs a revision, as identification of species is almost impossible." But for now the ventral colour and depth of line in the centre of the pronotum are all diagnostic to separate out species, even if we don't know which is which.
The single setae/hair above the eye is diagnostic for the genus, as are the >4 marginal punctures on the margin of the elytra (which are difficult to see in photographs).
Imaged 1 in Apr
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Pronotum & Single seta above the eye
Ventral
Ground Beetle
Chlaenius darlingensis
Na
m
Imaged 1 in Mar
Tiger Beetle
Cicindelini sp
Na
r
Imaged 1 in Jan
Green Sheen Ground Beetle
Conopterum superbum
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

Normally we find so much of our wildlife is tiny. It makes sence that to survive in our harsh semi-arid environment "tiny" means less resources required to thrive.
AND THEN we get a whopper like this! A staggeringly large beetle at ~32mm long! That's 8, yes folks EIGHT, times bigger than the Bulbous Antennae Clerid Beetle we just published ....
Mark said "They are fairly widespread right across the Mallee areas from Eyre Peninsula through to Victoria."
Imaged 2 in Oct(1) & Nov(1)
🔍Dorsal
Profile
Antenna
Bidentate Anterior Tibia
Face
Head, profile
Mandibles
Ventral
Australasian Panagaeitid Ground Beetle
Craspedophorus australasiae
Na
e m
Imaged 3 in Feb(1), Jul(1) & Dec(1)
Domino Ground Beetle
Homethes sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

2nd Record in SA on Atlas & 1st Record in SA on iNat:
~7mm long.
Mark was surprised at the limited records on-line and said "Interesting - they are certainly fairly abundant
"
Imaged 1 in Oct
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
Bombardier Beetle
Pheropsophus verticalis
Na
e m
Imaged 1 in Nov
Body
Dorsal
Alive, ventral
Google-eyed Ground Beetle
Scopodes sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NameOdacanthid Ground Beetle

Thank you Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

~3.5mm long.
Imaged 6 in Mar(1), Apr(1), Jun(1), Oct(1) & Nov(2)
S1, dorsal
S3, dorsal
S5, dorsal
S3, profile
S5, profile
Striped Ground Beetle
Trigonothops cf sp ES01
Na
e m
~10-11mm long (head & body).
Notice the long sparse hairs on the elytra (wing covers), pronotum (back/thorax shield) & head ... well on most of it's body actually; almost like spines rather than hairs.
They also have an unusual spur on their front legs. Beetles often have spines coming out of their legs, but beetles in this tribe (Amblytelini) have an indent in the leg and a hook; as can be seen in the photos.
Imaged 5 in Mar(2), Jul(1), Nov(1) & Dec(1)
Dorsal
Anterior
Antenna
Front leg spur
Posterior hairs
Ventral
Brown Ground Beetle
Trigonothops cf sp ES02
Na
e m
This one is a bit larger at ~13mm long (head & body).
Notice the long sparse hairs on most of it's body; almost like spines rather than hairs.
They also have an unusual spur on their front legs. Beetles often have spines coming out of their legs, but beetles in this tribe (Amblytelini) have an indent in the leg and a hook; as can be seen in the photos.
Imaged 4 in Apr(3) & May(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Head
Ventral
Crossed Ground Beetle
Trigonothops cf sp ES03
Na
e m
Notice the long sparse hairs on most of it's body; almost like spines rather than hairs.
They also have an unusual spur on their front legs. Beetles often have spines coming out of their legs, but beetles in this tribe (Amblytelini) have an indent in the leg and a hook; as can be seen in the photo.
This specimen has a smaller pronotum (back shield), which may make it a different species (perhaps Dystrichothorax?)
Imaged 2 in Oct
Patched Ground Beetle
Trigonothops sp ES04


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Kimberi Pullen for identifying and Thomas Mesaglio for helping with the id of this species for us

~7.5mm. The setae on the pronotum is diagnostic.
Imaged 1 in Dec
Dorsal
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Longhorn Beetle (Cerambycidae); 18 species, 13 from Ellura
Acacia Longhorn Beetle
Ancita sp
Na
a
Other Common NamesLongicorn Beetle, Long-horn Beetle or Long Horned Beetle

Imaged 2 in Apr(1) & May(1)
Slender Mallee Longhorn Beetle
Aposites sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NamesLongicorn Beetle, Long-horn Beetle or Long Horned Beetle

Thank you Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

S1 & S2 are ~26mm long. Specimen 1 has antennae length of ~26mm & S2 ~28mm
S1 & S2 were found on the same night at the outside light.
Thinking they were the same, didn't photograph the second specimen as rigorously. They are probably 2 different species. The antennae length suggests both are males (ie extends beyond the elytra). The body length compared with wings & their antennae joint near the base are different. They also have slightly different markings on the thorax.
Mark said "Can rule out A. pubicollis as the abdomen doesn't extend past the elytra (among other obvious differences) and we can rule out A. lanaticollis as this is a small, light coloured species which is quite distinctive from the ones we have in the mallee. A. gracilis can also be ruled out - it is very similar to A. lanaticollis but even smaller.
This leaves us with A. macilentis and A. niger. From the descriptions, there is not a lot separating them other than the form of the pronotum. The type of A. macilentis has the pronotum quite conical with only a slight swelling near the centre, whereas A. niger has the pronotum quite expanded about the middle, before being contracted before the base, where it again flares out fairly distinctively."
"In general they seem to share more in common with A. niger, despite their size (A. niger type is only 18mm compared with A. macilentis 26mm)."
Imaged 7(5M,2F) in Feb(3M), Mar(1F) & Dec(3:2M,1F)
S1, dorsal
S1, profile
S1, Body
S1, Antenna
S1, Eyes, dorsally
S1, Eye, laterally
S1, ventral
S2, dorsal
S2, Antenna
S2, Face
S2, ventral
🔍S6, dorsal
🔍S6, profile
🔍S6, Eye
🔍S6, ventral
Wattle Longhorn Beetle
Bethelium diversicorne


iNaturalist
Na
a
SynonymBethelium signiferum

Thank you Francesco Vitali for confirming the id of this species for us

~8mm long
Imaged 1 in Feb
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
Callitris Longhorn Beetle
Cerambycidae cf sp ES01
Na
e m
Other Common NamesLongicorn Beetle, Long-horn Beetle or Long Horned Beetle

Thank you Greg Baker & Andy Szito for helping with the id of this species for us

We were inspecting a recently fallen, dead, callitris tree. Marie noticed a grub inside a broken twig. Given callitris has natural invert inhibitors, we were surprised. We prized it out and were *VERY* concerned it looked a lot like European House Borer (Hylotrupes bajulus); or EHB for short. We posted on the Amateur Entomology Australia facebook group and Andy Szito (WA DPIRD) suggested we contact Greg Baker at SARDI. We sent it off to Greg for confirmation, who then sent it off to Andy for DNA testing.
Fortunately it wasn't EHB. It didn't match any known species in the DNA database, but was "most likely another Cerambycidae spp".
This specimen was ~13mm long.
Imaged 1 in Jul
🔍Larva, dorsal
🔍Larva, "mouth"
🔍Larva, under, legs
Longhorn Beetle
Cerambycidae cf sp ES02


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NamesLongicorn Beetle, Long-horn Beetle or Long Horned Beetle

~20mm long pupa.
As yet, we don't know anymore about the taxon of this beetle. Hopefully it'll hatch and we can get an id from the adult that emerges.
It's possibly one we've already identified elsewhere.
Imaged 1J in Sep
🔍S1 Pupa, dorsal
🔍S1 Pupa, ventral
Desert Longhorn
Microtragus mormon


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
Almost spider like with very long legs and antennae.
Note the odd shaped compound eyes and 2 pair of ridges along it's back. The middle ridges start with small horn like projections.
It's covered in fine hairs, not visible to the eye, which enhance the white patches on the rear ridges.
We found a second, dead, specimen and thought the light colour was due to fading in the sun. But have since seen a photo of a live specimen which was also very light. So the overall colour can go from dark brown to pale grey.
Imaged 2 in Feb(1) & Nov(1)
Dorsal, ~20mm
Dorsal, pale
Profile
Body, dorsal
Anterior
Head, profile
Head, dorsal
Ventral
Grass Longhorn
Oebarina ceresioides


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you David Muirhead for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
~12mm long
Thanks to Ian Gibbins for his help translating the latin name to English. We incorrectly interpreted "ceresio" to mean "deadly" where as "ceres" relates to wheat & grains.
Imaged 1 in Mar
🔍Female, dorsal
🔍Female, profile
🔍Female, Eyes & Antenna
🔍Female, anterior
Spotted Hairy Longhorn Beetle
Opsidota infecta


iNaturalist
Na
e m f
Other Common NamesLongicorn Beetle, Long-horn Beetle or Long Horned Beetle

Thank you Francesco Vitali for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
~18mm long. With the 3 specimens we caught in one night there seems to be some variation in the amount the abdomen protrudes past the elytra, but not overall length.
The spots on the thorax are made by hair, and so variations in colour, shape & quantity can be accounted for by age & wearing.
The vague patterns on the elytra may be due to transparency of the underlying body (but didn't manage to see it with elytra up to prove this). These patterns are quite variable.
Also note with longhorns that the antennae are often 2 dimensional. As such, some photo's of them appear thin/thread like. Others a thick heavy serrated appearance, where the antennae are at 90 deg. This is because the serrations are plate like and nearly invisible from the edge. As such, it's a good idea to get plenty of photo's of the antennae from different angles to get the correct shape of the segments.
Imaged 10 in Jan(2), Feb(6) & Nov(2)
S1, Dorsal, close
S2, Dorsal, close
S3, Dorsal, close
S1, Dorsal, whole
S1, Profile
S1, Antenna
S2, Antennae
S3, Mandibles
S1, Ventral
Eucalypt Longhorn
Phoracantha semipunctata


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

Unfortunately we only found a dead shell. Note the four trailing spines on the elytra (2 per elytron).
Imaged 1 in Feb
Shell
Feather-horned Longhorn Beetle
Piesarthrius laminosus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NamesLongicorn Beetle, Long-horn Beetle or Long Horned Beetle

Thank you Francesco Vitali for confirming the id of this species for us

~15mm long with very long thin wide filaments on the antennae.
It's difficult to determine how long the antennae are. Superficially they are a bit over 12mm long. However, the end segment has 2 filaments, of ~5mm long. So really the antennae are ~7mm, with 5mm of filament nearly doubling their length. The filaments vary in length, with the middle being the longest at ~7mm, and both edges being ~5mm.
As with many longhorns, the eyes are heavily indented and wrap around the antennae base.
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & Feb(1)
Whole
Dorsal
Profile
Antenna
Face
Ventral ... sort of
Braconid Mimic Longhorn
Proagapete sp
Na
e m
Other Common NameBraconoid Wasp Mimic Longicorn Beetle

Similar Species: Red Braconid Wasp (Braconidae sp ES01)
Imaged 1 in Nov
Dorsal, ~20mm
Profile, antenna ~20mm
Wing venation
Eye shape & back plate
Head, under
Ventral
Copper-wire Longhorn Beetle
Prosoplus sp
Na
e m
Other Common NameLongicorn Beetle

~7mm long. Named as we've only ever found it on Copper-wire Daisies.
Imaged 2 in Oct
Dorsal
Face
Silver-side Longhorn Beetle
Rhytiphora lateralis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
SynonymSymphyletes lateralis

Thank you Boris Büche & Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Record for SA on-line:
~15mm head to tail & each antenna is additionally ~18mm long.
Unfortunately we found it dead in a cob-web. But in very good condition and worth posting here.
Notice the very hairy antennae.
Stunning silver patches running down the side of the elytra.
Boris highlighted a very similar species, Rhytiphora fraserensis. He pointed to a paper highlighting, amoung other things, the ochre stripe on the pronotum; missing in R. fraserensis. This can be found via the iNat link.
The automated counter shows taken in Jan, but that was because we've been dealing with illness and photographing was delayed.
Imaged 1 in Jan
🔍S1: dorsal
🔍S1: profile
🔍S1: closer
🔍S1: Antenna
🔍S1: Head
🔍S1: Eye
Tea-tree Longhorn
Rhytiphora obliqua


iNaturalist
Na
a
SynonymsLamia obliqua, Platyomopsis obliqua, Rhytiphora (Platyomopsis) obliqua or Symphyletes frenchi

1st Live Photo on-line:
~16mm head to tail & each antenna is ~22mm long.
Marie found it drowning in a bird bath.
We were surprised at the difference in colour between wet & dry. After a day in an insect box came back to life and started walking around, so was released.
Notice the very hairy antennae.
In terms of colour, it's an odd mix of chestnut to silver grey patches.
It's spine/horn placement is important diagnostically, as are it's antennae & eye shape.
Imaged 1 in Nov
Dorsal, wet
Dorsal, dry
Profile
🔍Anterior
Face
Neck
Eye
Antenna
Elytra
Posterior
Ventral
White-marked Hairy Longhorn Beetle
Rhytiphora posthumeralis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Allen Sundholm OAM for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line
1st Record in SA on Atlas:

~17mm head to tail, with antennae ~13mm long.
Came to a night light on 1st January.
We photographed both sides to ensure the white splash was consistent and not a aberration.
Very hairy, with the white splashes hidden in the dorsal view.
Imaged 1 in Jan
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Elytra
🔍Antenna
🔍Eye
🔍Pronotum
🔍White-mark, right side
🔍White-mark, left side
🔍Ventral
Lycid Mimic Longhorn
Stenoderus suturalis
Na
e m
SynonymStenoderus labiatus

Other Common NameStinking Longicorn

Similar Species: Four-ribbed Lycid Beetle (Porrostoma sp)
Typically Longhorns are very consistent in their colours & pattern.
However, these can have orange or black faces & can have the side black stripe missing, as shown here.
This colour form were previously considered a different species and were then synonymised with S. suturalis.
Imaged 1 in Nov
Dorsal, ~15mm
Profile
Head, above
Eyes & mouth parts
Ventral
Striped Longhorn Beetle
Syllitus cf microps


iNaturalist
Na
f
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

Shown are 2 females, not copulating. The male is smaller, hidden above.
Imaged 4(1M,2F) in Nov
🔍2 Females hiding
Black-waisted Longhorn Beetle
Uracanthus griseus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NamesLongicorn Beetle, Long-horn Beetle or Long Horned Beetle

Thank you Thaddeus Charles Jones for confirming the id of this species for us

At ~25mm long, this is the longest longhorn we've come across to date. It had serrated antennae that don't quite extend past the body.
As with many longhorns, the eyes are heavily indented and wrap around the antennae base.
This specimen got caught in a red-backs cobweb. It was lucky to survive, but we couldn't get all the cobweb off it's antennae & feet. In time it should be able to peel it off.
Imaged 3 in Nov(1) & Dec(2)
🔍Dorsal
🔍Dorsal, Red Colours
Profile
Body
Eye
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Leaf Beetle (Chrysomelidae); 15 species, 12 from Ellura
Flea Beetle
Aporocera cf viridipennis
Na
e m
Imaged 1 in Oct
Profile
Dorsal
Tiny Leaf Beetle
Bruchinae sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Ken Walker for helping with the id of this species for us

Only 2mm long
Imaged 13 in Mar(1), Oct(9), Nov(2) & Dec(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Profile
Wings folding
Anterior
Head, profile
Posterior
Metallic Dodonaea Leaf Beetle
Callidemum hypochalceum
Na
e m f
Similar Species: Rainbow Darkling Beetle (Chalcopteroides sp ES01)
Thank you Martin Lagerwey for identifying this species for us

~8mm long
Imaged 12(2M,2F,1J) in Jan(2:1J), Feb(2:1M,1F), Mar(1), Apr(1), Aug(1), Sep(2:1M,1F), Oct(2) & Nov(1)
🔍Dorsal
Profile
🔍Profile
🔍Anterior
Orange-marked Black Leaf Beetle
Ditropidus pulchellus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Boris Büche for identifying and Martin Lagerwey & Nick Monaghan for confirming the id of this species for us

~4mm long.
We suspected this might be Ditropidus pulchellus. Most images of D. pulchellus have a red pronotum though.
This one also seems to have a slightly different scutellum.
We were wondering if these differences were gender based. Nick suggested it could be a regional variation. Martin agreed and said "I would expect regional or genetic variation. Gender dimorphism is minimal in this species although pronotum colors do vary by gender in Cryptocephalinae including a few Ditropidus and a few Aporocera." Martin also said "There is nothing else close in the Victorian Museum collection."
Imaged 1 in Nov
Dorsal
Profile
Legs
Posterior
Anterior
Face
Antennae
Ventral
Maroon Eboo Beetle
Eboo sp ES01


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Thank you Dr Paul Whitington for confirming the id of this species for us

~4mm long with a maroon metallic sheen to it's body & orange legs.
Imaged 6 in Mar(1), Apr(2) & Nov(3)
S2, dorsal
S4, dorsal
🔍S4, anterior
Green Eboo Beetle
Eboo sp ES02


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Paul Whitington for confirming the id of this species for us

~4mm long with a green metallic sheen to it's body & orange legs.
Imaged 2 in Mar(1) & Apr(1)
Scat-mimicking Leaf Beetle
Faex aemula


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Martin Lagerwey for confirming the id of this species for us

~5mm long
Imaged 1 in Nov
🔍Profile
🔍Anterior
🔍Posterior
🔍Profile
🔍Close UP
Tortoise Beetle
Paropsis aegrota


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Martin Lagerwey for identifying this species for us

Imaged 1 in Aug
Anterior
Dotted Paropsine Leaf Beetle
Paropsis carnosa
Na
e m
Thank you Martin Lagerwey for identifying this species for us

In relation to the difference between Paropsis & Paropsisterna sp, Martin said "Paropsis has some verrucae (bumps) on the elytra. They also usually have randomly placed elytral puncturation and margin of pronotum is crenulate (wavy) or acervate. Paropsisterna have smooth elytra without bumps and with punctured aligned in ten neat rows. The edge of the pronotum is entirely smooth. These features should be considered together. There are other more reliable differences underneath, which is rarely seen in photographs."
Imaged 1 in Oct
Posterior
Pink Desert Leaf Beetle
Paropsis roseola


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~8mm long. Notice the emarginate eyes.
It's pink pronotum is diagnostic, and they love mallee gum.
Also, notice the feet. They have pads (all leaf-beetles do) to help them suck onto leaves - hence the name.
Imaged 1 in Dec
Dorsal
Profile
🔍Emarginate Eyes
🔍Face
Antennae
Pronotum Shape
🔍Ventral
Eucalyptus Variegated Beetle
Paropsisterna cloelia


iNaturalist
Na
a
SynonymParopsisterna variicollis

Other Common NameDark Brown Paropsine Leaf Beetle

Thank you Martin Lagerwey for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 4(1M,1F) in Sep(3:1M,1F,1E) & Oct(1)
Striped Leaf Beetle
Paropsisterna intacta
Na
a
Thank you Martin Lagerwey for identifying this species for us

Not only did Martin supply the id for this stunning little beetle, he also very kindly supplied the specimen on his last trip to SA.
While this is the usual colour/pattern, Martin has found them without any spots on the pronotum, nor strips on the back (elytra).
Imaged 1 in Feb
Dorsal, ~13mm
Profile
Anterior
Legs + Feet
Posterior
Ventral
Variable Leaf Beetle
Paropsisterna variabilis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Martin Lagerwey for confirming the id of this species for us

~10 mm long.
All leaf beetles have "suction" pads on the bottom of their legs/feet. To help hold onto slippery leaves. Were were able to show this here.
Imaged 1 in May
🔍Dorsal
Released, dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Anterior
🔍Iso-view
🔍Mandibles
🔍Suction Pads
Posterior
🔍Ventral
Fireblight Beetle
Peltoschema orphana
Na
e m
Thank you Martin Lagerwey for identifying this species for us

Imaged 1 in Aug
🔍Dorsal
Profile
Leaf Beetle
Trachymela sp
Na
e m
Thank you Martin Lagerwey for identifying this species for us

Imaged 1 in Feb
🔍Profile
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Clerid Beetle (Cleridae); 4 species from Ellura
Spiny Clerid Beetle
Eunatalis spinicornis
Na
e m
~24mm long, weighed 190 mg and has hairy eyes. As with other clerids, this is a hairy beetle. It looks very similar to some longihorns, but the antennae are quite short in comparison. Longihorn antennae tend to be positioned above the body, whereas this specimen was quite intent on keeping them hidden. The antennae have a pointed tip and is possibly referenced in it's name. Ian Gibbins translated "spinicornis" for us to mean "spiny horns". Antennae are often refered to as Horns (eg long-i-horns). Ian also indicated "Eunatalis" more or less means "of true birth".
It's description, by Gerstmeier & Seitner, mentions "E. spinicornis differs from all other species by the dentate elytral apices". 'Dentate', meaning tooth-like, 'Elytral' meaning of the wing covers & 'Apices' meaning tip.
Imaged 2 in Feb(1) & Apr(1)
🔍Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Antennae placement
Antenna Spiny Tip
Foot
🔍Ventral
Variegated Clerid Beetle
Lemidia variegata


iNaturalist
Na
e m
SynonymsBlaesiophthalmus variegatus or Lemidia variegatus

Thank you Janet Whitington for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
~5.5mm long. Very Velvet Ant like with the naked eye, but on closer inspection with the camera we can see the antennae & body shape are quite different.
The whole upper aspect of the body is heavily punctuated. Underneath it is smooth and black. The pronotum has 2 small longitudinal ridges.
Imaged 3 in Mar(1) & Apr(2)
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
Pronotum
Elytra
Ventral
Green Metallic Clerid Beetle
Phlogistus sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Justin S. Bartlett for confirming the id of this species for us

~6mm long. Metallic Green covering, including legs.
Very hairy, typical of clerid beetles.
Even has long hair extruding from the eyes.
Found in Melaleuca lanceolata flower during the day.
We thought this was Phlogistus schulzi, but Justin said "Your species appears to belong to a complex of Phlogistus species that all have bicoloured protibiae and a weak pronotal sulcus (as in the type species, Phlogistus instabilis). Phlogistus schulzi does not belong that that complex . . . . it has a more rotund and smooth pronotum and distinctive shallow but uniform elytral punctation. Unfortunately, you just won't get a species ID on this, partly as there are so many similar-looking metallic green species in this genus, and partly as it is covered in powdery frass of some kind."
Imaged 1 in Feb
Dorsal
Profile
Head
Bulbous Antennae Clerid
Sedlacekvia sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
This is a rare find. We thought it was Sedlacekvia tanamica, but Mark suggests it might be an undescribed species. That's not to say it is rare, but doesn't seem to be found by people very much. Very little is known about them.
To the naked eye it looks just like an ant, but because it was on concrete the large antennae stood out and we thought it was a small Ant-nest Beetle. But closer inspection shows quite different antennae, bulbous rather than filamented. At only 4-5mm tip to tail, it's fairly small. Overall it is dark brown and hairy, with dark red patches on it's shoulders.
Not well studied, there have been records of the genus in NT (near Uluru), Victoria & NSW; along with this one & some Mark found in SA.
Mark said " the elytral apices are interesting. The apices in S. tanamica are attenuated, whereas in S. kinchegaensis they are rounded. Mine are definitely rounded and the 2 elytrons meet neatly together at the apex when closed. Yours appears somewhat in between - rounded but also slightly attenuated, not to the extreme of the type though: https://collections.museumsvictoria.com.au/specimens/1023001
This is one of the things I mentioned earlier about having one or only a few specimens in a type series - you can't really gauge the range of variability.
Other differences between the 2 include the punctures on the humeral angles (shoulders) of the elytron - bare in S. tanamica but regularly punctured in S. kinchegaensis and pronotum with a small bare, shiny patch on S. tanamica, but densely punctured throughout on S. kinchegaensis."
Mark found one over near Bakara in Dec.

Imaged 1 in Oct
🔍Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Ladybird (Coccinellidae); 5 species, 3 from Ellura
Transverse Ladybird
Coccinella transversalis


iNaturalist
Na
e m a f c
Thank you Reiner Richter for confirming the id of this species for us

Orange lady beetle with black wavy blotches.
Thanks to Reiner Richter for identifying the larva for us

Imaged 15(1J) in Feb(1), Mar(1), Apr(1), May(1), Jun(2), Jul(1J), Sep(2), Oct(4) & Nov(2)
Larva, dorsal
Adult, profile
Adult, dorsal
Large Spotted Ladybird
Harmonia conformis
Na
a
Imaged 11 in Apr(1), Jun(1), Aug(1), Sep(2), Oct(3) & Nov(3)
Adult
Spotted Amber Ladybeetle
Hippodamia variegata
If
e m
Other Common NameVariegated Ladybird

As it's name suggests, a very variable species. Usually with white stripes on it's pronotum, but sometimes not.
Introduced from Europe and used as a biological control of cotton aphids in crops, it is now wide spread and an environmental pest.
Our apologies for the moth scales interfering with these photo's. They were shed in the container by the previous occupant, not part of this species.
Imaged 6 in Mar(1), Nov(4) & Dec(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Striped Ladybird
Micraspis furcifera


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Reiner Richter, Mark Hura & Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

Eggs, ~1.5mm, Larvae ~6mm & Adults ~5mm long.
Pale yellow lady bug with black stripes.
Or is it black with yellow stripes
The markings on both adults and larvae are quite variable even when on the same bush at the same time; let alone across the country. The main variation is the amount of black vs yellow. The patterns follow the same general outline (but lines can be thicker/thinner or partly missing).
We can't tell the difference between the genders, but one we captured laid eggs in the pot, so knew was female. The eggs are yellow; laid vertically. We were surprised when photographing the female that she has emarginate eyes!
We've never seen inverts actively helping each other in a civilised manner until the other day. For the first time we found these Ladybird larvae; on a Kidney Saltbush. When we turned the larva over to get a ventral shot, one of the adults we caught at the same time ran over to help right it. When we did the same thing to the adult, this same larva came over to the adult to help it turn back the right way!
Photgraphed in Jan, Feb, May, Nov & Dec.
Imaged 31(1F,2J) in Jan(3), Feb(5:2J), May(1), Nov(2) & Dec(20:1F,17E)
S6, Adult, dorsal, back
S8, Adult, dorsal, front
G1, Adult, profile
S12 & S13, Different Markings
S6, Adult, Face
S2, Adult, On Saltbush
G1, Adults, Pre-winter Huddle
🔍S4, Female, anterior
🔍S4, Female, posterior
🔍S4, Female, Emarginate Eye
🔍S4, Female, ventral
🔍S4, Eggs, 0.5mm increment rule
🔍S11, Larva, dorsal
S11, Larva, dorsal
S11, Larva, dorsal
S14, Larva, dorsal
S14, Larva, profile
S11, Larva, Face
🔍S11, Adult, Helping
🔍S11, Larva, Helping
S11, Larva, ventral
S11, Larva, ventral
Pupal Case/Molt
Citrus Whitefly Ladybird
Serangium maculigerum


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you (LadyRobyn) for confirming and Reiner Richter for helping with the id of this species for us

Imaged 2 in Mar(1) & May(1)
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Belid Weevil (Curculionoidea: Belidae); 5 species from Ellura
Spotted Belid Weevil
Rhinotia niveopilosa


iNaturalist
Na
e m f
Thank you Boris Büche for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
Imaged 3 in Nov
Front
Back
Red Belid Weevil
Rhinotia scalaris


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Imaged 5 in Jan(2), Feb(1), Sep(1) & Nov(1)
Dorsal
Profile, back
Feet & Profile, front
Perspective
Hairy Belid Weevil
Rhinotia sp ES03


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Boris Büche for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
Boris said "Most similar to Rhinotia ursa - different by bicoloured hair."
Imaged 1 in Nov
Dorsal
Profile
Red-nosed Belid Weevil
Rhinotia sp ES04


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~12mm long including rostrum.
Imaged 1 in Nov
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
Sutural Belid Weevil
Rhinotia suturalis


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Thank you Anthony Paul for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 7 in Feb(1), Mar(2), Oct(3) & Dec(1)
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Head
🔍Mating
🔍Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Straight-snouted Weevil (Curculionoidea: Brentidae); 1 species from Ellura
Straight-snouted Weevil
Brentidae sp
Na
e m
Tip to tail this little fella is only 2mm long! Tiny
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & Sep(1)
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - True Weevil (Curculionoidea: Curculionidae); 15 species, 12 from Ellura
Fin-faced Weevil
Acantholophus planicollis


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

~12mm long.
Notice the butterfly shaped shield on it's face, creating fins that cover the eyes.
The only specimen we found was dead unfortunately.
Mark said "Your specimen closely matches Waterhouse's (1854) description. He mentions features such as the tubercles and granules as well as the colouring being somewhat variable, but the diagnostic features of your specimen fits with his description."
Imaged 1 in Sep
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Fins from above
🔍Fins in profile
🔍Fins in profile
Riverina Weevil
Amycterus riverinae


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Boris Büche for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
~15mm long. All those dimples have a single short stiff hair coming from the middle. Almost like a spine.
They eat seeds and other plant matter.
Imaged 2 in Feb(1) & Mar(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Legs
🔍Face
Snout
Eye
🔍Hair
Ventral
Broad-nosed Weevil
Cubicorhynchus sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Boris Büche for confirming the id of this species for us

We thought it might have been Cubicorhynchus setosus, but Boris, on Bowerbird, said "NOT setosus (setae too short). 3 similar WA species at least. Species-level ID would need male sexual characters; this weevil assumed female (slightly convex belly)."
~14mm long, covered in short, down-curved, hairs. Notice the unusual little horns on it's face.
Imaged 2 in Oct(1) & Nov(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Hairy Back
Face with Horns
Mandibles + Hairy Legs
Ventral
Variable Hidden-snout Weevil
Decilaus cf variegatus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Similar Species: White Pebble Weevil (Elaeagna squamibunda)
Thank you Otto Bell for confirming the id of this species for us

~5mm long.
While it did occasionally have it's snout protruding, as soon as we turned the light on, or it saw motion, it tucked it up, so couldn't get a shot of it.
Otto said "Nice find. One of the true Decilaus, maybe D. variegatus although can't be sure."
Imaged 1 in Nov
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Anterior
🔍Posterior
🔍Ventral, legs in
🔍Ventral, legs splayed
White Pebble Weevil
Elaeagna squamibunda


iNaturalist
Na
e m r
Similar Species: Variable Hidden-snout Weevil (Decilaus cf variegatus)
Thank you Boris Büche for identifying this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
Between ~5 to ~7mm long.
When feeling threatened they tuck their rostrum well into their chest & curl up.
Regardless their legs are large for their body size.
Their body reminds us of the surface of a golf ball.
We believe the black mark on this one (on it's side in the profile shot) is where the scales have been "worn"/scraped off, showing the actual under colour (dermis?) is black. As such, black marks like this aren't diagnostic, but damage.
We were fairly confident of our genus id, but thought the colours were a bit different to this species.
Boris said "In Lea (1913), considerable variability in scale colour described for the species."
Imaged 5 in Feb(1) & Oct(4)
Dorsal
Profile
Face
Defensive Posture
Horned Weevil
Encosmia cornuta


iNaturalist
Na
a
Imaged 1 in Apr
Eucalypt Weevil
Gonipterus sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
The larva create a faecal shield to help protect from predators. They skeletonise gum leaves.
Imaged 12(1M,1F,6J) in Jan(1J), Apr(1), Jul(1), Sep(2:1M,1F), Oct(1), Nov(1J) & Dec(5:4J)
Lava
Adults
Wattle Pig
Leptopius cf duponti
Na
a
Thank you Boris Büche for helping with the id of this species for us

Imaged 4 in Oct(1), Nov(2) & Dec(1)
Crusty Barrel Weevil
Medicasta sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Imaged 1 in Jul
Chevron Weevil
Ophryota cf squamibunda


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Samuel Brown for confirming the id of this species for us

~9mm long. It's difficult to be sure of species as the other Ophryota species (O. hystricosa & O. rapax, O. subangulata) are not well known. We are confident it's not O. nodosa.
Samuel thought it a reasonable id.
Imaged 2 in Feb
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Standing
🔍Abdomen, Chevron
🔍Anterior
🔍Right Horn (behind)
🔍Left Horn (front)
🔍Posterior
🔍Ventral
Elephant Weevil
Orthorhinus cylindrirostris


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Thank you Dr Samuel Brown for confirming the id of this species for us

A well known Weevil. They are quite large at ~20mm long.
They have 4 pairs of tufts that look like horns along their backs, to the top of their head.
A very long thin snout and long legs.
Their legs have spurs, underneath the thighs, just above the knees. Probably used to aid in gripping to branches, etc.
They seem to vary in colour from brown earthy tones to quite light, but always with a vague, angled stripe across their backs.
Imaged 2 in Oct(1) & Nov(1)
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S2, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
🔍S2, profile
🔍S2, Elytra Edge
🔍S2, Front Leg Spurs
🔍S2, Mandibles
🔍S2, Rugos Snout
🔍S2, dorsal, close up
🔍S2, Head, profile
🔍S2, ventral
Horse-nosed Weevil
Pelororhinus crassus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Boris Büche for confirming the id of this species for us

A medium sized weevil at ~14mm long weight ~0.1gm.
The antennae point back slightly, rather than foreward like many other weevils. Covered in very short coloured scales, with long hairs around the muzzle.
Very long legs and large feet that can hold onto glass, just.
This specimen flew past us straight into a senna bush ~5m in front of us. Beetles fly quite differently to flies. Much slower, quite combersome, with the body hanging.
Shape is very important to weevil identification; much more than colour. Notice the way the pronotum is extended over the head, and the way the head indents (in profile) to make a face and separate muzzle. Broad-nosed weevils have a straight line from the forehead to the tip of the snout.
This is probably male because of the less humped back.
The face is diagnostic and leads to this species. The body colours & patterns are a bit variable.
Imaged 1 in Sep
🔍Male, dorsal
🔍Male, profile, anterior
Male, profile, posterior
🔍Male, Face
Male, posterior
Male, Snout
Male, ventral
Elegant Weevil
Pelororhinus facetus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
SynonymRhinaria faceta

~13mm
The "face" has a build up of scales. Unfortunately the 2nd one was covered in cob web, making it difficult to see.
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & Nov(1)
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S2, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
🔍S2, profile
🔍S1, Face
🔍S2, Face
🔍S1, Nose
🔍S1, Head, profile
🔍S2, Head, profile
🔍S2, anterior
🔍S1, ventral
🔍S2, ventral
Barrel Weevil
Perperus sp
Na
e m
Imaged 8 in Feb(1), Apr(2), Jun(1), Sep(1) & Oct(3)
Sitona Weevil
Sitona discoideus
If
e m
Imaged 3 in Oct(2) & Nov(1)
Dorsal, ~5mm
Profile
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Skin Beetle (Dermestidae); 1 species from Ellura
Varied Carpet Beetle
Anthrenus verbasci


iNaturalist
If
e m a
Similar Species: Brown Globular Springtail (Symphypleona sp ES01)
Thank you Lila (FairyPossum) for confirming the id of this species for us

A small beetle, ~3mm long, that has cost millions to protect against severely damaging the world's museum specimens.
Imaged 7(1J) in May(1J), Sep(1) & Oct(5)
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Antennae
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Click Beetle (Elateridae); 8 species, 4 from Ellura
Shielded Click Beetle
Agrypnus sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~8-9mm long.
The ventral shot is very important here. When comparing the holotype images of species in this genus on-line very few have cut outs in their exoskeleton underneath for antennae and front leg protection. These cut outs/indents seem quite variable amoung the different species; to the point they don't exist in some. We could find any that match our two specimens so think ours are undescribed.
Imaged 4 in Mar(1), May(1), Jun(1) & Dec(1)
S1, dorsal
🔍S2, dorsal
S1, profile
🔍S2, profile
S2, Antennae
S1, ventral
🔍S2, ventral
Lovely Red Click Beetle
Austrocardiophorus amabilis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
SynonymParacardiophorus amabilis

Thank you Laurie Cookson for identifying and Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
1st Record in SA on Atlas:

~4-5mm long.
Laurie said "Small, pronotum roundish shape. While some species are all brown or all black, some have distinctive colour patterns like this one. It is Austrocardiophorus amabilis. Elytra basal third red, postmid transverse white oval spots."
Imaged 1 in Oct
🔍S1, dorsal
Red Click Beetle
Elateridae sp ES02
Na
a
Imaged 1 in Dec
Black Click Beetle
Elateridae sp ES03
Na
e m a
Imaged 7 in Apr(4), May(1) & Dec(2)
Brown Click Beetle
Elateridae sp ES04
Na
a
Imaged 2 in Dec
Small Click Beetle
Elateridae sp ES05
Na
e m
~7mm long
Imaged 3 in Feb(1) & Mar(2)
Click Beetle
Monocrepidius basalis


iNaturalist
Na
f
Thank you Boris Büche for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 2 in Sep
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S2, profile
🔍S2, Pronotum
Large Click Beetle
Pseudotetralobus sp
Na
m
The antennae of the males are diagnostic for this genus.
Imaged 1 in Feb
Male, profile
Male, Antennae
Male, Taking Off
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Clown Beetle (Histeridae); 2 species from Ellura
Horned Matchhead Beetle
Pheidoliphila carbo


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Michael Caterino for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
1st Atlas record since 1910:

~3mm long. Notice the Charcoal body, leafy legs and orange hair tufts on the shoulders.
The head is able to retract all the way in to form a strong protective shell.
Imaged 2 in Apr
Dorsal
Profile, head out
Head in
Leafy Legs
Posterior
Perspective
Ventral
Clown Beetle
Saprinus laetus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Boris Büche for identifying and Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

Quite small @ 4.5 to 7mm, with large mandibles, for it's size, and wide legs clearly used for digging.
Very metallic blue/green back/elytra and metallic yellow/gold shield/pronotum.
Club like antennae. Notice the body is covered in scores & pits almost sculptured; these are the same on all speciemens so conclude they are not damage marks.
The dirt on specimen four (S4) highlights the edge of the elytra quite well.
The scores mentioned above are diagnostic and referred to as streaks or stria. Here there are 4 with the 1st (inner) being short, with the other 3 being longer. Go to the iNat link to see a link to a more detailed description.
Boris id'ed our S6, we consider the other specimens we've photographed to be the same (even with the large size differences).
Imaged 12 in May(3), Aug(2), Sep(1), Oct(1), Nov(3) & Dec(2)
🔍S6, Dorsal
S4, Dirty
🔍S6, Mandibles & Legs
🔍S6, Antennae
🔍S6, Sculpture
🔍S6, Clown Colours
S4, Wing Edges
🔍S6, Posterior
S1, Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Short-winged Flower Beetle (Kateretidae); 1 species, none from Ellura
Short-winged Flower Beetle
Kateretidae sp


iNaturalist
Na
m
Thank you Boris Büche for identifying this species for us

These are not often observed in Australia, with only 2 genera known.
Imaged 1 in Jul
Dorsal
Profile
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Stag Beetle (Lucanidae); 1 species from Ellura
Black Stag Beetle
Figulus regularis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

~15mm long.
These have a smooth ribbed elytra and are quite hairless. This one has a broken head/face, so it's difficult to discern facial features.
Imaged 1 in Dec
Dorsal
Antennae
Front legs
Posterior
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Net-winged Beetle (Lycidae); 3 species, 2 from Ellura
Long-nosed Lycid Beetle
Porrostoma rhipidium


iNaturalist
Na
e m f r
Thank you Boris Büche & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Male are ~13mm to ~15mm long.
Imaged 8(6M,1F) in Oct(6:4M,1F) & Nov(2M)
S1, Female, dorsal
S1, Female, Long Nose
🔍S2, Male, dorsal
🔍S2, Male, closer
🔍S2, Male, ventral
Four-ribbed Lycid Beetle
Porrostoma sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Similar Species: Lycid Mimic Longhorn (Stenoderus suturalis)
Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Boris said "Note straight costa 1, and also lateral cells of pronotum sharply delimited. "
Imaged 2(1M,1J) in May(1J) & Oct(1M)
🔍S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, Antennae
🔍S2, Larva, dorsal
🔍S2, Larva, ventral
Three-ribbed Lycid Beetle
Trichalus semicostatus


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Boris Büche for identifying and Janet Whitington for confirming the id of this species for us

~7 to ~13mm long Females.
Boris said "Elytra with three complete ribs (costae), instead of four in Porrostoma, plus a short one near scutellum; costa closest to suture bent outwards in anteriour fourth, giving space for extra interval."
Imaged 5F in Nov(1F) & Dec(4F)
🔍S1, Female, dorsal
🔍S1, Female, profile
🔍S1, Female, Pronotum, dorsal
🔍S1, Female, Pronotum, profile
🔍S2, Female, Wings
🔍S1, Female, ventral
🔍S2, Female, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Soft-winged Flower Beetle (Melyridae); 3 species from Ellura
Red & Blue Flower Beetle
Dicranolaius bellulus


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Other Common NamesPollen Beetle or Red and Blue Flower Beetle

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

~5mm long.
Males have a cup on their antennae near the base.
Notice the red elytral tips here.
These are one of those species that most of this family have been dropped into by ameteurs. But Boris did a review of the group on iNaturalist (& shared the 2017 review by Liu,Slipinski & Pang) to separate them all into their proper names.
Imaged 3(1M,2F) in Feb(1M), Aug(1F) & Oct(1F)
S1, Female, dorsal
S1, Female, profile
S1, Female, anterior
S1, Female, posterior
Notched-leg Red & Blue Flower Beetle
Dicranolaius cinctus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NamesPollen Beetle or Red and Blue Flower Beetle

Thank you Gabriele Franzini for identifying and Thomas Mesaglio for helping with the id of this species for us

~4 - 6mm long. We have found these feeding on saltbush flowers
We thought this was Dicranolaius bellulus. Thomas said "lack of red elytral tips should eliminate bellulus"
D. cinctus can be recognised by a notch in the fore-femur of males (which our females don't have)
Interestingly we have found both male & female Dicranolaius bellulus, but we have only found females of this species.
Imaged 4F in Jan(2F) & Mar(2F)
S3, Female, dorsal
🔍S4, Female, dorsal
S3, Female, profile
S4, Female, profile
S3, Female, Face
S4, Female, Antennae
S3, Female, posterior
S3, Female, ventral
Wrinkled-wing Flower Beetle
Dicranolaius rugulipennis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NamesPollen Beetle or Red and Blue Flower Beetle

Thank you Boris Büche for identifying and Gabriele Franzini for helping with the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line
2nd Record in SA on Atlas:

~5mm long.
We thought this was D. bellulus but Boris indicated the pattern of red & blue are important, and this has the wrong pattern.
Boris then said (in relation to the pronotum pattern/marks) "Marks may take about half of pronotum; half of anteriour legs yellowish, etc."
Imaged 1M in Oct
S1, Male, dorsal
S1, Male, profile
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Pintail Beetle (Mordellidae); 2 species from Ellura
Zebra Pintail Beetle
Mordella australis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Boris Büche for identifying this species for us

~3mm
Imaged 1 in Nov
Dorsal
About to fly off
Golden Pintail Beetle
Mordella sp ES02


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~4mm
Imaged 1 in Nov
Dorsal
Profile
Lifted Elytra
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Wedge-shaped Beetle (Ripiphoridae); 1 species, none from Ellura
Wedge-shaped Beetle
Macrosiagon sp


iNaturalist
Na
m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying and (Fornax313) for confirming the id of this species for us

Mark said "Most likely female Macrosiagon"
We commented that these could easily be mistaken for Pintail Beetles.
Mark responded "They are similar to the Mordellidae but in general the Ripiphoridae often (not always) have flabellate antennae (reduced in the females), while the Mordellidae have much simpler antennae (usually filiform or serrate at most). The most obvious difference is in the hind coxae, which is expanded in the Mordellidae, and much more slender in the Ripiphoridae, but this is difficult to see in most photos unless underside shots are taken."
Imaged 1F in Mar
Dorsal
Antennae
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Scarab Beetle (Scarabaeidae); 15 species, 11 from Ellura
Christmas Beetle
Anoplognathus montanus


iNaturalist
Na
a
Other Common NameDuck Billed Beetle

Thank you Malcolm Worthing for confirming and Ethan Beaver for helping with the id of this species for us

~30mm long. The green to purple reflections is diagnostic, as are the large hooks on the feet.
There are a number of similar genera in the Anoplognathini tribe; which this belongs.
Mark Hura explained "One of the ways to separate Anoplognathus, Calloodes and Repsimus from the other members in the Anoplognathina tribe is by looking at the hind margin of the pronotum. In those 3 genera, the pronotum is 'bilobed', ie. it has a small deviation around the top of the scutellum. This can sometimes be very slight, so care must be taken not to use this feature alone, however if the base of the pronotum is evenly convex, then chances are that it isn't one of those genera. ... The clypeus also varies ... All Anoplognathus are either convex or at most truncated."
Malcolm identified ours as a male and said "Male individuals often have an almost pointed/narrow snout (clypeus) where the edges are concave, like the individual you photographed. Females have a wider blunt snout. This rule generally appears to occur in most SA Anoplognathus species.
Also, the two spotted species can be distinguished by the number of teeth (points) on their front legs (foretibia). A. pallidicollis has 3 teeth, while A. olivieri has 2 teeth on each front leg.
Mark later said "The metallic sheen is only a useful feature here (SA) owing to the lack of other species, so if something out of it's range did turn up here, that wouldn't be a useful feature to go off."
Imaged 1 in Dec
🔍Male, dorsal
🔍Male, profile
🔍Male, Head
🔍Male, iso-view
Male, Released
🔍Male, ventral
Red Scarab Beetle
Cryptodus sp
Na
e m
Other Common NameJune Beetle

Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

Imaged 1 in Oct
Dorsal
Flower Chafer
Diaphonia dispar


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NamesFlower Beetle or Scarab Beetle

Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

~23mm long.
The female is basically a black beetle, with 2 "flame" stripes above, 2 orange spots on the rear, along with 4 paler orange/yellow spots on each side of the abdomen.
The most interesting visual aspect of this beetle is it's sculptured elytra. The legs are wide and also have abnormally large appendages.
Males look a bit like cowboy beetles and are pale brown, with a black 'V' on the pronotum & black edging to the inside edge of the pronotum.
These are quite rare and important scientifically, so have included detailed photo's of all our specimens to show any differences between them.
Imaged 4(1M,3F) in Mar(3:1M,2F) & Apr(1F)
S1, Female, dorsal
🔍S2, Female, dorsal
🔍S3, Male, dorsal
🔍S4, Female, dorsal
S1, Female, profile
🔍S2, Female, profile
🔍S3, Male, profile
🔍S4, Female, profile
S1, Female, anterior
🔍S2, Female, anterior
🔍S4, Female, anterior
S1, Female, posterior
🔍S2, Female, posterior
🔍S4, Female, posterior
🔍S2, Female, Antenna
🔍S3, Male, Face
🔍S3, Male, Emarginate Eye
🔍S3, Male, Antennae
S3, Male, Middle Leg
S1, Female, ventral
S3, Male, ventral
🔍S4, Female, ventral
Sandy Dung Beetle
Euoniticellus fulvus
If
a
Imaged 1 in Oct
🔍Dorsal, ~9mm
Fiddler Beetle
Eupoecila australasiae


iNaturalist
Ir
a
Thank you Mark Hura & Kurtise Templeton (NutsAboutNature) for confirming the id of this species for us

~20mm long, found by our 16m old Grandson, Kayden.
These are an Australian Native, but introduced to South Australia from the Eastern States.
There is a very similar, locally native species, Chlorobapta frontalis. Both vary quite a bit in their dorsal patterns such that they are easily confused. However, a ventral shot shows the thighs of Chlorobapta frontalis are very yellow; here the thighs are generally dark brown with a small yellow patch on the front of the hind thighs. Looking further is seems Chlorobapta frontalis doesn't have the longitudinal yellow mark on the pronotum either.
These are still a major concern as, like Koalas, they can have a devastating effect on the local environment; pushing out local natives.
Some do say that being in a suburban environment (where this was found) is a lost cause. ie so much damage has already been caused by humans. However, within a few days both a Southern Marbled Gecko (Christinus marmoratus) & a Four-toed Earless Skink (Hemiergis peronii) were both found in the same garden. So not all hope is lost in suburbia.
Mark said "These seem to have appeared about 8 or 9 years ago, initially centered around the Golden Grove area, and so perhaps came in from landscape supplies as it is the site of large landscape suppliers. These have spread rapidly, covering most of suburban Adelaide now, which is a testament to their strong flying capabilities and their ability to adapt to a wide variety of flowering plants."
Imaged 1 in Jun
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Face
🔍Front Legs
🔍Middle Leg
🔍Leg Hair (Front R, Middle L)
🔍Posterior
🔍Rear Legs
🔍Ventral
Scabby Scarab Beetle
Melolonthinae sp ES03
Na
e m
Other Common NameJune Beetle

Imaged 1 in Feb
Beige Scarab Beetle
Melolonthinae sp ES04
Na
e m
Other Common NameJune Beetle

Imaged 1 in Oct
Brown Scarab Beetle
Melolonthinae sp ES05
Na
e m
Other Common NameJune Beetle

Imaged 2 in Nov(1) & Dec(1)
Hairy Scarab Beetle
Melolonthinae sp ES06
Na
e m
Other Common NameJune Beetle

Possibly Semanopterus sp
Imaged 3 in Mar(1), Nov(1) & Dec(1)
Red Chafer
Melolonthinae sp ES07


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NameJune Beetle

Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

~17mm long.
Very similar to the Brown Chafer. These have different head plate; being wider at the very tip.
Notice the 4 large antenna blades, most likely used for pheromone detection.
We thought these might be Heteronyxsp. Mark said "Simple tarsal claws separate this from Heteronycini tribe. Most likely Colpochila sp".
Imaged 5 in Apr(1), Oct(1), Nov(1) & Dec(2)
S2, dorsal
S1, profile
🔍S3, profile
🔍S3, anterior
🔍S3, Antennae
🔍S3, posterior
Long Legged Scarab Beetle
Melolonthinae sp ES09
Na
e m a
Other Common NameJune Beetle

We've found quite a few of these. They look identical but range from 17mm down to ~6mm; which would indicate they are different species. We've just shown a couple of the larger specimens here.
Imaged 12 in Feb(2), Mar(2), Oct(2) & Dec(6)
S1, Dorsal
S2, Antennae
S1, Ventral
Hairy Little Scarab Beetle
Melolonthinae sp ES12


iNaturalist
Na
m
Other Common NameJune Beetle

Thank you Mark Hura for identifying and Reiner Richter for confirming the id of this species for us

~7mm long.
Mark found this beetle and we photographed it in his hand. He said "This is a bit of a mystery species. The only thing I could find that came close to a match was Automolius, based on the arrangement if the hind tibial spurs, the fused tergite/sternite near the apical end of the abdomen, and the stout hairs on the pronotum. Automolius generally should be completely clothed, however the extent of the clothing on the elytra varies. There are some species that have scale-like setae on the elytra, which I think this may have had originally, but has since worn off. There seems to be a whitish mark from each of the pores on the elytra, which may be the remnants of scales that have been rubbed off before us finding it. In addition, females also have bare patches (usually near the back of the elytra) which may vary in size and may have contributed to the nakedness of the elytra.
There is a chance that it could also be a Liparetrus, however if so, it is very unlike any that I have ever come across. Generally these have very fine pilosity on the pronotum and not the stout hairs so obvious in your image. There may very well be species like this however that I am not aware of.
Basically, unless I find another one that I can examine, we will not really know the true identity of it, and so it is best left as a 'Melolonthinae' for the time being."
Imaged 1 in Mar
Red-corn Flower Beetle
Navigator ruficornis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura & Christian H. Moeseneder for confirming the id of this species for us

~12mm long male.
Found head down, bum up in a Melaleuca lanceolata flower. Just saw a black bum hoping it was a Jewel Beetle, but got even luckier! These are VERY rare.
The prontoum & bum reflect green, but it wasn't as obvious under the studio lights. It depends on the angle of the light hitting it, and the flash forces that to be 90 deg. Ventrally between the middle & back legs is quite green too.
Etymology of the name:
a) ruficornis -> rufi = red + cornis = horn (antennae).
b) We asked Chris why "Navigator", he said "We named the genus Navigator because of the males "navigating" to the females, during their circling flight. It seemed to be all they were interested in and we only had evidence from very few found on fowers. So your observation is important."
Imaged 2M in Feb(1M) & Mar(1M)
🔍Male, dorsal
🔍Male, profile
🔍Male, profile, ventral
🔍Male, iso-view
🔍Male, Elytra
🔍Male, Pronotum & Head
🔍Male, Face
🔍Male, Antenna
🔍Male, Antenna
🔍Male, Legs
🔍Male, Rear Leg
🔍Male, posterior
🔍Male, Abdomen, ventral
🔍Male, ventral
Adelaide Unicorn Beetle
Novapus adelaidae


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
~17 to ~21mm long. Marie found all 3; the first (male) was dead on the ground; the other female & male were found live on the ground.
We spent hours trying to id it via photographs and thought it was Novapus crassus, a very similar species.
Mark said "It exhibits all the features of this species - pygidium setose on base and apical ridge; mentum setose on disc; deep, abrupt pronotal excavation with shallow vermiform punctures on the disc; large bifurcate cephalic horn; subobsolete upper carina on hind tibia as well as a number of other features."
In 1887 Rev. T. Blackburn states of this species (which he described) "I have seen a good many specimens taken in the Adelaide district.". It's a pity they are so rare today.
The females don't have the horn, nor the depression.
Imaged 3(1M,1F) in May(1F) & Jun(2:1M)
🔍S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S2, Female, dorsal
🔍S3, Male, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, profile
🔍S2, Female, profile
🔍S3, Male, profile
🔍S1, Male, anterior
🔍S2, Female, anterior
🔍S2, Female, Elytra
🔍S3, Male, Elytra
🔍S1, Male, Horn
🔍S3, Male, Horn
🔍S1, Male, Front Leg
S1, Male, Hind Leg
S1, Male, Rear Legs
S1, Male, Leg Spur
S1, Male, Leg Spurs
🔍S3, Male, Pronotum
🔍S2, Female, Head & Antennae
🔍S3, Male, posterior
🔍S1, Male, ventral
🔍S2, Female, ventral
🔍S3, Male, ventral
Brown Chafer
Pimelopus cf sp
Na
e m
Other Common NameJune Beetle

Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

Large hairy rusty brown beetle. There are many very similar species & genera. Mark said "These are in the Dynastinae sub-family and is most likely Pimelopus, however it could also be a Novapus. Difficult to tell with the females."
Imaged 3 in Apr(1), Aug(1) & Oct(1)
Female, dorsal
Female, profile
Female, posterior
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Large Carion Beetle (Silphidae); 1 species from Ellura
Carrion Beetle
Ptomaphila lacrymosa


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Thank you Reiner Richter for confirming the id of this species for us

~15mm body & head length, ~19mm including elytra.
A distinctive brown & black beetle with large elytra & pronotum making it look much larger than it really is. Somewhat reminiscent of a Pie Dish Beetle.
Imaged 2 in Apr(1) & Aug(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Pronotum
Face
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Rove Beetle (Staphylinidae); 7 species, 5 from Ellura
Red-winged Rove Beetle
Aleochara (Xenochara) rutilipennis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Boris Büche for identifying this species for us

1st Record in SA on Atlas:
~5mm long
Imaged 1 in Feb
S1, dorsal
S1, profile
S1, Iso-view
S1, Head
S1, Abdomen
Ant-like Rove Beetle
Astenus sp


iNaturalist
Na
f
Thank you (ChipIok) for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 1 in Sep
🔍S1, dorsal
Devil's Coach-horse Beetle
Creophilus erythrocephalus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NamesRove Beetle, Devil's footman, Devil's coachman or Devil's steed

Thank you David (DMail) & Gordon Claridge for confirming the id of this species for us

Variable in size, ~12 to ~17mm. While found around carrion (and toilets), they feed on fly larvae on dead animals.
In South Australia, the size of the centre spot on the face is a good guide, as only the two Creophilus species (C. erythrocephalus & C. lanos) have been recorded here.
Lorenzo Locati said "certainty of species ID comes from terminal segment, orange in lanio, black in erythocephalus".
Vik Dunis says of C. erythrocephalus "
Head spot: Circular, sharp edged.
Elytra: Metallic-blue Tint
Terminal Abdominal Segment: Black"
Generally the Elytra colour is VERY difficult to pick up in photo's due to the poor colour depth of most commercial cameras. We've highlighted this with 3 different colours (blue, black & green) with 2 different specimens and 2 different cameras.
Imaged 4 in Aug(2) & Nov(2)
🔍S1, Dorsal, blue
🔍S3, Dorsal, black
🔍S3, Dorsal, green
🔍S3, Profile
🔍S3, Face, Spot, Mandibles
🔍S3, Front Leg, Antenna
Torn Rove Beetle
Creophilus lanio


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Boris Büche for confirming the id of this species for us

Notice the wings are out here. Normally (as can be seen above) the wings are neatly folded under the elytra and not visible.
Vik Dunis says of C. lanio "
Head spot: Wide, edge not sharp
Elytra: Black
Terminal Abdominal Segment: Orange/red"
Imaged 1 in Apr
Anterior, with Wings Out
Small Rove Beetle
Lathrobiina sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Lorenzo Locati for identifying and Boris Büche for helping with the id of this species for us

~5.5mm long
Imaged 1 in Dec
Pintail Rove Beetle
Sepedophilus sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~3mm long. Note the hairy/spiny abdomen that pintail beetles don't have, and the short elytra typical of rove beetles.
This one seems a little damaged as it couldn't retract it's wings.
Imaged 2 in Mar(1) & Apr(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Antennae
Ventral
Tiny Rove Beetle
Staphylinidae sp ES01
Na
e m
We can't be sure these 2 sightings are the same species. They are both tiny & we managed to measure the 2nd at ~3mm. At this size our equipement isn't sophisticated enough to get detailed diagnostic photographs, so stay with family level id.
Imaged 2 in Feb(1) & Jun(1)
S1, Profile
S1, Posterior
S2, Dorsal
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Darkling Beetle (Tenebrionidae); 12 species, 11 from Ellura
Black Comb-clawed Beetle
Alleculini sp ES01
Na
e m a
Alleculini is a tribe, commonly called Comb-clawed Beetles and are an understudied group. There are a large number of similar looking genera in the tribe, let alone species. We have left this id at the tribe level for now until further information is more readily available.
Note the very hairy body & legs, as well as large eyes. Reminiscent of the introduced Egyptian beetle, but much smaller at only 12mm long (head & body).
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & Dec(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Face & Feet
Ventral
Brown Comb-clawed Beetle
Alleculini sp ES02
Na
e m
Alleculini is a tribe, commonly called Comb-clawed Beetles and are an understudied group. There are a large number of similar looking genera in the tribe, let alone species. We have left this id at the tribe level for now until further information is more readily available.
Note the very hairy body & legs, as well as large eyes. This specimen is quite a bit smaller than the previous at only 8mm long (head & body). Notice also that the legs are shorter and body more parallel than our previous specimen. The head shape, large eyes & padded feet still match.
Imaged 3 in Oct(2) & Dec(1)
S1, Dorsal
S2, Dorsal
Orange-footed Black Beetle
Batessia westwoodi


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

~20mm long. Many of the beetles in the Cyphaleina sub-tribe can look very similar. The corners of the pronotum vary in size and shape quite a bit within species.
There is another similar genus, Nyctozoilus, which has diagnostic hairs on the rear legs of the males. Hence the reason we included hind legs shots to show they are bare here.
When we were wondering if it was B. championi Mark said "B. westwoodi and championi have very similar descriptions, but when placed side by side, the differences become a little more obvious. Unfortunately most of the features used to distinguish between the two are variable to an extent, thus further confusing them. This biggest difference externally is in the prothorax, and specifically the hind angles which are preceeded by and abrupt constriction in westwoodi, and by an even sweeping curve in championi. A syntype image for B. championi can be found here.
Another major difference is the shape of the elytra which is somewhat tear-shaped in westwoodi (widest near apical third), and almost parallel in championi."
Imaged 1 in Feb
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Face
Eye + Anetenna Shield
Under-foot
Hind Femur
Hind Femur
Ventral
Egyptian Beetle
Blaps polychresta


iNaturalist
If
e m c
Other Common NameGiant Darkling Beetle

Thank you Dr Chris Lambkin & Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

Large black beetle, approximately 35mm (40mm including elytra extension) long, with a projection out the rear end of the elytra.
Imaged 3 in Feb(1) & Mar(2)
S1, dorsal
🔍S3, dorsal
🔍S3, profile
🔍S3, Antenna
🔍S3, posterior
🔍S3, ventral
Sharp-antennae Darkling Beetle
Brises acuticornis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line
~16-17mm long.
The Rusty colour seems consistent with these.
Came to the Night Light.
A unique combination of:
1. Matt body
2. Light hair covering
3. Small punctuations
4. Fine ridges
5. Front edge of pronotum shape
6. Face, antennae shields
7. Elytra shape
Mark said "Interesting - looks like Brises acuticornis (teneral)".
We never realised a beetle could have a teneral stage. We've only of this with dragonflies.
After we found some links of pinned specimens of Brises acuticornis, Mark said "Both images in your links are of Brises acuticornis duboulayi ..., which has the granulations on the elytra. By contrast Brises acuticornis acuticornis (which yours appears to be) doesn't have the granulations, and the ridges are far less pronounced."
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & Feb(1)
🔍S2, dorsal
🔍S2, profile
🔍S2, Body
🔍S1, Mandibles
🔍S2, Head, dorsal
🔍S2, Head, profile
🔍S1, Under Antenna Shield
🔍S1, Middle Leg
🔍S2, Front Leg
🔍S1, ventral
🔍S2, ventral
Rainbow Darkling Beetle
Chalcopteroides sp ES01
Na
e m
Other Common NameChalcopterus Beetle

Similar Species: Metallic Dodonaea Leaf Beetle (Callidemum hypochalceum)
Thank you Tom Weir for helping with the id of this species for us

Very metallic green back
Highly reflective.
These look similar to Amarygmus sp. Tom said "Amarygmus tend to have the elytra distinctly striate and punctate whereas Chalcopteroides tend to have only superficial striae and punctures. Also Amarygmus have the mandibles apically bifid whereas in Chalcopteroides they are apically rounded or truncate."
Imaged 9 in Mar(1), Apr(1), Sep(2), Oct(4) & Nov(1)
Antenna
Back
Ventral
Finely-punctuated Rainbow Beetle
Chalcopteroides sp ES02


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NameChalcopterus Beetle

Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 1 in Apr
🔍Dorsal
Strongly Striated Rainbow Beetle
Chalcopteroides sp ES03
Na
e m a
Other Common NameChalcopterus Beetle

Imaged 4 in Jan(1), Feb(1) & May(2)
Little Sardinian Beetle
Cheirodes sardous


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

~5mm long.
We suspected they were introduced as we found them in the kitchen and assumed they had transported in from flowers or veggies. But the records showing distribution seem higher in Southern Australia than the rest of the world; indicating they originated here.
Mark said "Introduced here from Nthn Africa/Mediterranean. The first records of it here are from WA in the 1920's and they have been recorded here in SA since the 1960's"
We also found a couple of records from Victoria in 1943. This implies it's been in SA longer than we thought. We'd expect them to travel thru SA from WA toward Victoria; unless it was a separate introduction.
Interestingly these seem rare in their countries of origin ... perhaps we can catch them & ship them back

Imaged 1 in Sep
S1, dorsal
S1, Antenna & Face (to the right)
🔍S1, Legs
🔍S1, Legs
🔍S1, ventral
Honey Brown Beetle
Ecnolagria rufescens


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Boris Büche & Dianne Clarke for confirming the id of this species for us

Male & female ~13mm long. To separate species within the genus the male is needed. These can be recognised by the long thick antennae bases as seen here.
In SA we have two very similar species, E. grandis & E. rufescens. To separate them you need to see the antennae segments. The middle & rear leg spines also help. E. rufescens has longer middle leg spines but a slightly smaller rear leg spine than E. grandis.
With E. grandis the middle antennal segments also have slight spuring (similar to the 2nd to last two, but not as exaggerated). With E. rufescens the middle antennal segments are relatively symetrical ... round, not spurred.
We cannot confirm the females shown here are E. rufescens, but given the one male we found is, and they were found in close proximity it's reasonable to assume they are.
Imaged 7(1M,6F) in Jan(1F), Feb(2F), Nov(1M) & Dec(3F)
S1, Male, dorsal
S2, Female, dorsal
S4, Female, dorsal
S3, Female, profile
S1, Male, Antenna
S1, Male, Middle Leg Spines
S1, Male, Rear Leg Spine
S3, Female, Preparing to fly
S3, Female, ventral
Confusing Beetle
Salax sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
~8.5mm long. The thick legs are reminiscent of a Scarab beetle, but the antennae are wrong for those.
We thought it might be a Dusty Surface Beetle (Gonocephalum sp), but what's going on with it's face! A double face shield? No, on analysing the photo's we then realised the lower shields (looking similar to the upper ones) are the upper edges of the mandibles.
Mark said "These guys are interesting - they are listed as Salax Guerin-Meneville, 1834, in the Trilobocarini tribe (Pimeliinae subfamily). They are believed to have been introduced here from Argentina or Chile. The species found here is listed as not described.
Doesn't seem to be many official records of them, and of those they are mostly from coastal habitats. I have found them reasonably common out our way in disturbed farmland areas."
As there is so little information on them, we haven't marked them as introduced. It's possible they are native, but no work has been done to be sure either way.
Imaged 1 in Apr
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
Mandibles
Face
🔍Antenna
🔍Ventral
Flour Beetle
Tribolium cf sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Hura for identifying and Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

~3 to ~3.5mm long.
Mark id'ed this to a Darkling Beele (Tenebrionidae family), and said "Looks like Tribolium sp. - common pests in grain/flour etc. I'm not that familiar with the tribe"
When we then looked into it, at first it seemed like an exact match. We thought the "dozer" like face would be quite unique, but we discovered a number of tribes exhibit this feature. Species such as Lorelus pubipennis look similar, along with members of the tribe Cnemeplatiini.
So with-out microscopic inspection & possibly dissection we aren't able to be sure of this id.
Without an exact id, it's also hard to be confident of it's origins/native status. Possibly native to the region; or a regional introduction from wetter environs.
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & Mar(1)
S2, dorsal
S2, profile
S2, iso-view
S2, profile, under
S2, anterior
S2, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Pie-dish Beetle (Tenebrionidae: Heleina); 5 species, 4 from Ellura
Transparent Pie-dish Beetle
Helea castor


iNaturalist
Na
e m
SynonymHelaeus

Thank you Mark Hura for identifying this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
We have recently discovered the enclosed head is not a diagnostic feature of Helea sp.
Notice how round this species is compared to the next (Helea waitei).
It's quite unusual as it's brown plus has a transparent "shell".
We're not sure if the "brown fluff" is just plain dirt, or possibly excreted by the beetle as camouflage. Another possibility is cobweb from a tiny spider
This specimen was 22mm long including the flanges of the Elytra (rear shield / wing covers) and Prothorax (front shell), 18mm just the head & body without the shell.
This specimen has 2 ridges starting at the front of the elytra stopping about 3/4's toward the rear, roughly where a 3rd middle ridge starts.
Imaged 1 in Jan
Dorsal
Profile
Horn
"Fluff"
Eye & Thread Antenna
Ventral
Large Pie-dish Beetle
Helea waitei


iNaturalist
Na
e m
SynonymHelaeus waitei

Thank you Gray Catanzaro for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
Notice the single, central ridge running from the front to the back of the elytra on this specimen.
Also a small horn on the prothorax between the head & elytra.
When threatened they tilt their whole body up on side to present the shell to the threat (protecting their undersides). They are able to move their head inside the shell like a tortoise, so can close the hole off with nearly no eyes showing, or have half the eye poking through.
The body & legs are covered in short thick hair.
The elytra is fused, so they can't fly. The last specimen we found is covered in a white substance. Possible fungus of some sort. But other beetles exude a fungus like substance to help with camoflage.
The 2 specimens we measured were 27mm & 33mm total length. To be clear, this includes the "shell', tip to tail. The actual head to abdomen extremities were 26mm (of the 33mm). 7mm of "shell" front & back. It can be unclear what "length" means with inverts. Normally we don't include appendages, but the shell doesn't seem like an appendage. So we've included it for now, unless otherwise notified.
Imaged 9 in Jan(4), Feb(4) & Mar(1)
S1, dorsal
S2, dorsal
S3, dorsal
S3, profile
S3, posterior
S3, Horn
S3, Antenna
S3, Head with eyes just peeping out
S3, Anterior showing eyes above & below
S3, Hairs on a leg
S3, Hairs on the under-body
S3, White excretions on Elytra
S3, Front Leg
S3, Middle Leg
S3, Middle Leg
S1, ventral
S3, ventral
Shiny Pie-dish Beetle
Pterohelaeus sp ES01
Na
e m
Imaged 3 in Jan(1), Oct(1) & Nov(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Face
Head, under
Ventral
Red-rimmed Blue Pie-dish Beetle
Pterohelaeus sp ES03
Na
e m
~19mm long with basically thread antennae; however the segments are wide & flat.
Has a white speckled/dusty look to it's surface that seems to rub off.
The red-rim was easily visible to the naked eye, but held up to light here to highight it plus show the semi-transparent nature of it (you can see the leg underneath it)
Imaged 6(2J) in Jan(1), Feb(2), Mar(2J) & Dec(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Red Rim
Emarginate Eye
Ventral
Rotund Pie-dish Beetle
Saragus sp


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Mark Hura for confirming the id of this species for us

~15mm long. On Bowerbird we all thought these were Cillibus sp, but that's been changed/fixed. While similar, Cillibus sp has much larger flanges on the elytra. Mark later said "Cillibus has well developed elytral flanges as opposed to Saragus which has much less developed/no elytral flanges. The large tibial forespur, which can be seen very well in this image, is also a good indication of Saragus, although a couple of other genera also possess this feature (Trichosaragus - essentially a hairy or scale-covered Saragus & Dysarchus which has different shaped pronotum as well as a number of other features that differ)."
Imaged 3 in Jan(1), Oct(1) & Nov(1)
🔍Dorsal
🔍Anterior
🔍Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - Beetles (Coleoptera); 167 species, 133 from Ellura - Gnawer Beetle (Trogidae); 5 species, 4 from Ellura
Arrow-warts Carcass Beetle
Omorgus euclensis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you (SageOst) for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
~15mm
It seems the arrow-shaped warts on this beetle are a diagnostic feature of this species.
Notice also the tibial teeth are quite angular compared with the other, more rounded teeth, of the other carcass beetles we've found.
First published here on 08-Aug-2016 as Omorgus sp ES01.
Imaged 2 in May
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S2, dorsal
🔍S2, profile
🔍S2, Tibial Teeth
🔍S1, ventral
🔍S2, ventral
Small-wart Carcass Beetle
Omorgus sp ES03


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~12 to ~13.5mm
Most of these Carcass Beetles (Omorgus sp) play dead for long periods of time. We've only managed to photograph one that actually got up and started walking around.
This one does seem to have the Arrow-warts of Omorgus euclensis, but the tibial teeth are more rounded and this one is smaller than the other we've measured.
We thought it possible a gender difference between Omorgus euclensis, but Paul said "generally external variation in tubercles is not an indication of gender", so we've assumed a different species.
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & Mar(1)
🔍S3, dorsal
🔍S3, profile
🔍S3, anterior
🔍S3, ventral
Carcass Beetle
Omorgus sp ES04


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~12mm long
We thought this was the same as our Omorgus sp ES03, but then noticed they had tiny arrow-warts/tubercles, where as this one didn't. It was found on the same day one of those. It does lead to the question if it's just individual differences, or gender variations. But it does seem the tubercle shapes/sizes are diagnostic so we are assuming this is a different species.
We don't have too many carcasses that we know of around. Can't smell them anyway, so it's always a surprise to find them. The do come to night lights. It's possible they eat roo scats, of which we have an abundant supply!
Imaged 1 in Mar
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
🔍S1, anterior
🔍S1, ventral
Finely-lined Carcass Beetle
Omorgus sp ES05


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Paul M Hutchinson for identifying and Kurtise Templeton (NutsAboutNature) for confirming the id of this species for us

~16mm long
We thought this might be Omorgus perhispidus but Paul said "Omorgus perhispidius has distinct long setae on side of pronotum and does not obtain 16mm.", so not a match for this species.
Further, in reference to Trogidae generally Paul said
"Trogidae in Australia is composed of 1 introduced Trox and the remaining are in the Genus Omorgus.
Trox has the scutellum "U" shaped whereas Omorgus are hastate "arrow-head" shaped.
Within Omorgus there are 3 distinct groups.
First the large flightless species which have fused elytra. They are usually quite localised and not often encountered. There are appx 10 species mostly represented in WA and are of special interest to me and hopefully will publish on them.
The second group have unfused elytra, but due to reduced hind wings are most likely flightless. There are 9 species. I have little knowledge as mostly eastern States species and I have no representative specimens.
The third and most common are the group that is capable of flight, and are attracted to light. There are 37 species. Adults and larva can be found under carcasses (old dried).
Scholtz revised the Australian Trogidae in 1986 with appx 6 species described since. The key mainly utilises characters of the legs, head, pronotum and particularly elytra. The key is difficult to use, and I have found it necessary to extract genitalia to confirm species, particularly for species in group 2. This only works for males.
External sexual characters are not mentioned by Scholtz. A subsequent paper on Scarabaeoidea suggests a difference in angle of abdominal sternite 2. I have determined distinct external sexual character in 2 species only, thus generally external variation in tubercles is not an indication of gender. As there are several species that are very similar, particularly in group 3 I do no recommend relying on available image for identification purposes. The available images do not represent all species (appx 10 of 50) AND the diagnostic characters are not mentioned."
Imaged 2 in Mar(1) & Apr(1)
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S2, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
🔍S2, profile
🔍S2, iso-view
🔍S1, Anterior
🔍S2, anterior
🔍S1, Legs
🔍S2, posterior
🔍S1, ventral
🔍S2, ventral
Large Carcass Beetle
Omorgus tatei


iNaturalist
Na
r
Thank you Paul M Hutchinson for confirming the id of this species for us

~26mm
Not only is this the largest carcass beetle we've found, it also has distinctively large warts, or tubercles.
Imaged 2 in Oct
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S2, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
🔍S2, profile
🔍S2, profile
🔍S2, Iso-view
🔍S1, anterior
🔍S2, anterior
🔍S2, Face
🔍S2, Antenna
🔍S2, Leg Spines
🔍S1, ventral
🔍S2, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura
True Bugs have a proboscis as their feeding apartus.
Juvenile hemipterans are similar to their parents, smaller with no wings, but often wing buds.
Beetles, which can look similar, have mandibles; they also have their forwings hardened (called the Elytra).
Juvenile beeltes are larvae, all soft, looking nothing like their parents.
Phil Warb said "Many species in the sub-order Heteroptera have forewings called hemelytra which are hardened at the base and are more membranous apically. Many of these form the characteristic cross pattern that we see in many photo's."
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Aphid (Aphididae); 1 species from Ellura
Green Peach Aphid
Myzus persicae
Na
e m
Imaged 2 in Sep(1) & Oct(1)
On False Sowthistle
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - True Spittlebug (Cercopoidea, Cercopidae); 1 species from Ellura
Brown Spittlebug
Bathyllus albicinctus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Francesco Martoni for confirming the id of this species for us

Adults ~6mm long.
They make a froth (akin to a frog nest pontoon) in plants for their young to hide in while they suck juices from the plant, as can be seen here.
As far as we know this is the only species of true spittlebug in SA.
We confused the nymph with a Cicada; at least they are related.
Newly emerged speciemens can be very pale. Additionally Les Day said "B. albicinctus does appear to be variable in colouring."
Imaged 4(2J) in Aug(1J), Sep(2:1J) & Nov(1)
🔍Adult, dorsal
Adult, profile
Adult, anterior
🔍Froth
🔍Nymph hiding
🔍Nymph exposed
🔍Nymph - "Dribbles"
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Tube Spittlebug (Cercopoidea, Clastopteridae); 2 species, 1 from Ellura
Green Tube Spittlebug
Chaetophyes sp


iNaturalist
Na
f
Thank you Reiner Richter for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 1 in Nov
Profile
Anterior
Tube Spittlebug
Machaerotinae sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
We discovered these tiny tubes on gum buds and thought they may be some sort of tiny Paper Wasp nests.
We have now found out they are spittlebug houses/shelters/hides.
They are known to feed on gum trees.
There does appear to be two different types - a smooth nest & a rough one. The tubes are made from excretions from the larvae contained inside.
Whether this rough texture indicates a different species or not we don't know.
The rough bent nest was ~13mm long, and you can see a "closed" cell inside. This is actually the posterior end of the larva. It has a protective plate on it's rear end to seal the tube.
The tube contains one larva, similar to a case moth, or psyllid.
Imaged 1 in Dec
Larva, posterior
🔍Bent, Rough Tube
🔍Smoother Tube
🔍Rough, Straighter Tube
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Cicada (Cicadidae); 5 species, 3 from Ellura
Cicada
Cicadidae sp


iNaturalist
Na
c
~22mm long.
Notice it's hairy eyes, like a line right through the middle of the back third.
This is a nymph and was crawling up our Daughter-in-law's leg. We assume it just dug it's way out of the lawn.
They can live underground for up to 7 years, climb up a tree, shed their skin for the last time and emerge as adults. They then mate , with females laying eggs, and they die within ~2 weeks.
We most likely won't ever find out what species this is, but it's so rare to find a live nymph we thought it worth posting anyway. If we had put it on some wood in a container, it probably would have shed and we'd be able to determine species. Next time, if we ever find one again.
Imaged 1J in Dec
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Ocelli, Antenna & Hairy Eyes
🔍Front Foot
🔍Ventral
Two-dot Smoky Buzzer
Myopsalta binotata


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Prof David Emery for confirming the id of this species for us

~14mm forewing length. ~14mm head & body length.
Imaged 2(1M,1F) in Nov(1M) & Dec(1F)
🔍Male, dorsal
🔍Male, profile
🔍Male, Wing Venation
🔍Male, Head
🔍Male, Face
🔍Male, Legs
🔍Male, ventral
Subcoastal Squawker
Pauropsalta accola


iNaturalist
Na
e m r
Thank you Dr Lindsay Popple for identifying and Ethan Beaver for helping with the id of this species for us

Reference Link
It's been very useful to have found 2 of the same species as you can now compare the colour variations between the teneral stage & a full coloured adult; which is much blacker.
The following relates to Specimen 2:
~20mm body length with red wing veins and a bronze body. There are 3 large, red, ocelli just in front of the middline of the eyes.
It has some strange green "milky" colourations on the wings and body which, on closer inspection, is the same on the pale abdomen stripes.
The hind wings make a dark pointed "peak" above the abdomen.
The forearms are armed with heavy set spines.
Lindsay said "The specimen is still partly teneral, which makes it difficult to identify. The dorsal portion of tergite 1 is clearly visible, which actually rules out both P. confinis and P. extensa. So need to consider other alternatives. Given consideration of its size, it is most likely to be Pauropsalta accola"
Imaged 3(2M) in Jan(1M), Oct(1) & Dec(1M)
🔍S1, Adult, dorsal
S3, Teneral, dorsal
S1, Adult, profile
🔍S2, Male, profile
🔍S3, Teneral, profile
S1, Adult, Face
S3, Teneral, Face
S3, Teneral, ventral
Large Mallee Squawker
Pauropsalta infuscata


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Dr Lindsay Popple for identifying and Ethan Beaver for helping with the id of this species for us

Lindsay has since said "The key to Pauropsalta species requires quite precise measurements and close examination of a specimen." ... they "can only be identified to genus from photographs."
As such, these id's are tentative/estimates.
Imaged 1 in Jan
🔍Wing Venation
🔍Face
Scrub-clicker
Platypsalta cf sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Ethan Beaver for identifying and Dr Lindsay Popple for confirming the id of this species for us

Female was ~15mm long
Reference Link
Imaged 1F in Dec
Female, dorsal
🔍Female, profile
Female, face
Female, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Jumping Tree Bug (Cimicomorpha, Miridae); 6 species from Ellura
Saltbush Mirid
Coridromius chenopoderis


iNaturalist
Na
e m f
A tiny bug at ~2.5mm that has striped legs & face. More like a plant hopper with it's powerful hind legs.
It's severely bent wings are another obvious diagnostic feature.
Notibly this genus utilises a Traumatic insemination technique to "copulate".
Imaged 2 in Apr(1) & Sep(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Proboscis
Green Mirid
Creontiades dilutus


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Thank you Danilo Lüdke & Janet Whitington for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 5(1J) in Mar(2), May(1), Sep(1) & Oct(1J)
🔍Dorsal
Profile
Cactus Bearing Seed Bug
Cysteorrhacha cactifera


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for identifying this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line
1st Record on Atlas & iNat

~4.5 to ~5mm long
Looking at the dorsal view, you wouldn't expect this to be anything other than fairly normal bug. But the profile view shows a "scutellal lobe" with spines emminating from it. This isn't a singular abnormallity, we found 9 all with the same shape. As it turns out, it's a diagnostic feature and is featured in it's name - the cactus refers to the spiney protruberance on it's scutellum.
Imaged 5 in Sep(2) & Oct(3)
🔍S2, dorsal
🔍S5, dorsal
🔍S2, profile, stacked
🔍S5, profile
🔍S5, Antennae
🔍S2, Antennae
🔍S2, ventral
Pale Spotted Mirid
Metopocoris sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for helping with the id of this species for us

~6mm long, 4 segment antennae.
Danilo highlighted it looked a lot like Metopocoris cassiae. But it seems it's too small and the pronotum is quite dark, so possibly an undescribed species.
Imaged 1 in Sep
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
🔍S1, close up
🔍S1, ventral
Hairy Large-eyed Mirid Bug
Miridae sp
Na
e m
Nearly 5mm long
Imaged 3 in Jun(1), Jul(1) & Aug(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Rostrum
Ventral
Colourful Seed Bug
Rayieria sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Anna A Namyatova for confirming and Cynthia Chan for helping with the id of this species for us

~6.5mm long.
Cynthia suggested is may be Rayieria frontalis, and asked for Anna's confirmation.
Anna (who described Australia's Rayieria) said it was too shiny, so an undescribed species.
Imaged 1 in Jan
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Antenanna & Head Protrusion
🔍Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Assassin Bug (Cimicomorpha, Reduviidae); 7 species from Ellura
Fury Assassin Bug
Coranus sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Similar Species: Brown Senna Bug (Melanacanthus cf scutellaris)
Imaged 2 in Nov(1) & Dec(1)
Wingless Corsair Assassin
Ectomocoris sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for helping with the id of this species for us

~13.5mm. With these wingless ( "apterous") species, it becomes difficult to differentiate adults and nymphs, as wing development is normally a simple indicator to separate them. In response Danilo said "In Reduviid adults the pronotum is subdivided into fore and hind lobe (not in nymphs) and adults have three tarsal segments (nymphs two). In a nutshell, in nymphs many other structures and appendices looks somewhat more roundish, less developed, but the differences are difficult to describe, there is no general rule for all taxa. We can also consider the genitalia, which aren't fully developed in nymphs. This is a male, the genitals form a kind of capsule. Females have an ovipositor surpassing the abdomen and thereby forming its black tip. The male genital capsule does not reach the abdominal margin, that's why the tip of the abdomen looks rather roundish and red from above.

Danilo added "The pads of the tibiae are called 'fossula spongiosa', a structure of hairs and spines producing a viscous substance. It helps to grab and hold prey."

On another obs Danilo said "Wingless form, often quickly ID'd as E. patricius, however such IDs aren't reliable as apterous forms of similar species and their differences are yet unknown."

Danilo said of our find "What's interesting about your specimen is that this is apparently not Ectomocoris ornatus! The wingless form was formerly called E. patricius but proved to belong to E. ornatus as well. However, the body length of E. ornatus (including measurements for E. patricius) is not known to be < 17.3 mm." ... "yours at 13.5 mm, together with the dark legs we have strong evidence that this is something either undescribed or previously not known from SA! It certainly fits best E. interioris known only from central arid WA (body length 13.4-13.7 mm)."
... "this is a find of high scientific importance"
Imaged 2 in Feb(1) & Apr(1)
🔍S2, Male, dorsal
🔍S2, Male, profile
🔍S2, Male, Head & Thorax
🔍S2, Male, anterior
🔍S2, Male, Fossula Spongiosa
🔍S2, Male, Antenna
🔍S2, Male, Proboscis Grove
🔍S2, Male, ventral
Assassin Bug
Oncocephalus sp ES01


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Adult ~15mm long.
Interesting bugs Assassins (Reduviidae), one of the few predatory/carnivorous true bugs (order Hemiptera). Most are vegetarian.
One easy diagnostic difference over the similiar Alydidae family are the large front legs as can be seen here; used to hold it's prey. Not all assassins have them, but no Alydidae's do.
A more guaranteed diagnostic, but harder to see, is that Assassin's have a curved rostrum / proboscis
Imaged 4(1J) in Nov(3:1J) & Dec(1)
Adult, dorsal
Adult, profile
Adult, profile, flat, defensive?
Adult, large ocelli + proboscis
Adult, antenna
Adult, back plate spine
Adult, anterior
Adult, ventral
Instar, dorsal
Instar, profile
Instar, proboscis
Instar, ventral
Assassin Bug
Oncocephalus sp ES02


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~13mm long
Imaged 2 in Oct
Dorsal, ~13mm
Profile
Rostrum, under
Ventral
Assassin Bug
Oncocephalus sp ES03


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Imaged 2 in Oct
Dorsal
Orange Spotted Ground Assassin Bug
Peirates punctorius


iNaturalist
Na
e m
SynonymsPirates flavopictus or Pirates fulvipennis

Imaged 1 in Sep
🔍Dorsal
Scutellum Spine
Pale Assassin Bug
Perissopygocoris pallidus


iNaturalist
Na
e m f
SynonymPerissopygocoris pallidum

Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
~11.5mm long.
Predominately pale brown with darker brown patches. Has hairy antennae & a "spine", or projection, eminating from the scutellum.
Imaged 3(2M) in Feb(1M), Nov(1) & Dec(1M)
🔍S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S2, Male, dorsal
🔍S2, Male, profile
🔍S1, Male, anterior
🔍S2, Male, Head
S1, Male, Antennae
🔍S2, Male, Antenna
S1, Male, Scutellum Spine
🔍S2, Male, Scutellum Spine
🔍S1, Male, ventral
🔍S2, Male, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Thread-legged Assassin Bug (Cimicomorpha, Reduviidae, Emesinae); 3 species from Ellura
Small Thread-legged Assassin Bug
Armstrongula tillyardi


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for identifying this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line
1st Record on Atlas since 1978
:
~7mm long. Looks similar to Ploiaria sp.
Fairly hairless. White knees, striped legs, patterned wings & body. Notice the significant spines on the front legs
Imaged 2 in Feb(1) & Mar(1)
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Profile, Close
🔍Front Legs
🔍Wing Venation
Large Thread-legged Assassin Bug
Emesinae sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~16 to ~18mm long. Legs & antennae span a huge 70mm!
Fairly hairless. White knees, plain body, wings & legs.
We'd never seen a thread-legged assassin bug before and suddenly 3 came to the night light. There were 2 species, this one and a smaller one.
Imaged 2 in Mar
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S2, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
🔍S2, profile
🔍S2, profile, close
🔍S1, Head
🔍S1, Proboscis
🔍S1, Front Legs
🔍S1, ventral
🔍S2, ventral
Tiny Thread-legged Assassin Bug
Empicoris sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for identifying this species for us

~3.5mm long.
Dark, very patterned body with very stipy legs.
Danilo said "Closest to E. scrabraventris"
Imaged 1 in Apr
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Legs
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Soft Scale (Coccoidea, Coccidae); 2 species, 1 from Ellura
Wattle Tick Scale
Cryptes baccatus


iNaturalist
Na
a c
Thank you Thomas Mesaglio & (InsideRelic) for confirming the id of this species for us

Adult Females are ~4mm diameter. There are no appendages to worry about here

Imaged 200F in Jul(150F) & Sep(50F)
🔍Adult Females
🔍Adult Females
🔍Close Up
Scale Insect
Pulvinaria cf sp ES01
Na
e m
Thank you Prof Lyn Cook for identifying this species for us

Primarily brilliant white (which is the egg sack) with a brown cap (the actual insect).
Found on saltbush (Atriplex sp).
This is a tentantive id, the cf indicating "it looks like", "it might", but not definate.
Lyn said "They’re coccids with a long ovisac. Possibly Pulvinaria but the whole group needs revision."
Imaged 7 in Aug(1), Sep(4) & Oct(2)
Hatching
Juvenile
Adult without Egg Sack
Adult with Egg Sack
Perspective, with Ant
Perspective, with Ant
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Armored Scale Insect (Coccoidea, Diaspididae); 1 species, none from Ellura
Sedge Scale Insect
Furcaspis cladii


iNaturalist
Na
a c
Thank you Prof Benjamin Normark (BNormark) for confirming the id of this species for us

<2mm diameter on Clustered Sword-sedge (Lepidosperma congestum)
Imaged 2 in Jul
🔍Close
🔍Colony
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Felt Scale (Coccoidea, Eriococcidae); 1 species from Ellura
Eucalypt Gall
Apiomorpha strombylosa


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Similar Species: Mealybug (Pseudococcidae cf sp)
Thank you Prof Penelope Gullan for confirming the id of this species for us

We've cut galls open before to see what's inside, but this is the first time we've found something.
We thought it was a larva, but it's actually a female adult. You can see the 6 "legs", more like claws, in the photo's. Clearly not required anymore, but a left over ancestral "artifact"; living it's life inside the mutated Eucalypt stem.
We're still not quite sure how the males, that live a whole 2 days outside the "casing", manage to mate with females embedded inside their "casing".
We found this specimen on a very stunted, sick looking, mallee "bush". You know when you have a native plant when it's attacked by insects. Insects don't know what to do with introduced species; so generally treat them like a lump of rusty steel (ie not interested, leave it alone, so the introduced species thrives - oops!).
Imaged 2 in Jul(1) & Aug(1)
Female Casing, left side
Female Casing, right side, other insects
Female Case split open, with insect
Female, dorsal, ~7mm
Female, profile
Female, Legs
Female, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Giant Scale (Coccoidea, Monophlebidae); 2 species from Ellura
Large Mealybug
Monophlebulus sp ES01
Na
e m
Other Common NameLarge Meally Bug

We are not sure why one of the group was orange; they are clearly cohabiting and have the same body shape so reasonably sure they are all one species.
Imaged 1 in Jul
Females
Small Mealybug
Monophlebulus sp ES02
Na
e m
Other Common NameSmall Meally Bug

It's possibly a nymph, and at 2mm body & head length is not very big.
Imaged 1 in Jan
Female, dorsal
Female, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Mealy Bug (Coccoidea, Pseudococcidae); 1 species from Ellura
Mealybug
Pseudococcidae cf sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Similar Species: Eucalypt Gall (Apiomorpha strombylosa)
Many thanks to Ken Walker at Bowerbird who contact Dr Gullan (Australia's expert in scale insect group) on our behalf. She said "Male scale insects are hard to ID, but if it has 4 simple eyes, it's probably a male mealybug (or perhaps an eriococcid). It's not really possible to go further."
Imaged 3(1M,2F) in Feb(2F) & Mar(1M)
Male
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Broad-headed Bug (Coreoidea, Alydidae); 2 species from Ellura
Brown Senna Bug
Melanacanthus cf scutellaris


iNaturalist
Na
e m a f
Other Common NameBrown Bean Bug

Similar Species: Pacific Damsel Bug (Nabis kinbergii) : Fury Assassin Bug (Coranus sp) : Green Seed Bug (Lygaeidae sp)
There are 5 families that look similar
1. Broad-headed Bug (Alydidae; tend to be longer & thinner),
2. Jumping Tree Bug (Miridae),
3. Seed Bug (Lygaeidae),
4. Damsel Bug (Nabidae) &
5. Assassin Bug (Reduviidae; highly variable family, but have curved rostrum/proboscis tucked underneath. Easy to see in a side shot - but you have to photograph the side of it to be sure).
Sometimes we take photo's that look nothing like the bug we see with our eyes. This is one case, so we've published both "naked eye" looking shots and others with more detail that we still want to share.

An interesting species this, apart from the talk above, it's usual venacular name is "Brown Bean Bug" .... now it annoys us to find common names of natives that have nothing to do with natives. Here, eg, there is no native bean that we are aware of. BUT these guys love senna (and probably acacia), in fact probably any legume ... guess what! Beans are legumes. So how about we name them after a native species of plant that they love, rather some agricultural pest term.

There is another species that is very similar to this one also found in SA; M. margineguttatus. According to the original description, it "Differs from M. scutellaris, Walk., by the prominently spotted connexivum, differently coloured markings through-out, posterior area of the pronotum more distinctly raised and wrinkled, &c.".
When Danilo Lüdke id'ed one on iNat he said "see the spotted connexivum, the lateral line only distinct along head and prothorax and the darker scutellum". Danilo also highlighted a 3rd, M. funebris, but this isn't recognised by Atlas (or the AFD) as yet.
Imaged 19 in Jan(6), Feb(2), Mar(1), May(1), Aug(2), Sep(1), Oct(4), Nov(1) & Dec(1)
Dorsal, ~11mm
Dorsal, detailed
Dorsal, Wings apart
Profile
Profile, detailed
Head
On a Senna pod
Ventral
Long Broad-headed Bug
Mutusca brevicornis


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Similar Species: Pacific Damsel Bug (Nabis kinbergii)
Thank you Tony Daley for confirming the id of this species for us

~15mm long, with varying levels of green colours on the body.
Imaged 2 in Jun(1) & Nov(1)
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Head
Colour Variation
🔍Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Leaf Footed Bug (Coreoidea, Coreidae); 4 species, 3 from Ellura
Wingless Coreid Bug
Agriopocoris froggatti


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for identifying this species for us

~10mm long, chocolate brown and very spiny. Males have a narrower abdomen than the females.
The speciemen we recently found at Ellura is slightly longer and has some minor differences in colour, shown here as S3. Possibly location variations, or a different species.
Tony Daley on Bowerbird said "There are a couple of differences in the form of the abdomen to separate the wingless adults from the similar nymphs, but easiest to point to is the two pairs of abdominal dorsal scent glands down the middle which are active in nymphs and thus clearly seen but not active, and thus not distinguished from surrounding surface in colour, in adults."
The scent glands Tony refers appear like 4 black lumps in the nymphs that are missing from our two specimens.
These can have wings apparantly, but we haven't seen any photo's of them.
Danilo said "A. dollingi (known only from WA) and A. porcellus are out as the shape of the male abdomen is different (connexival segment VII) and the remaining A. chadwicki is not confirmed for SA and differs in lacking the bristle-bearing tubercles, the legs and the lateral margins of the pronotum are rather smooth. And this leaves us with A. froggatti"
Imaged 3M in Jan(1M), Sep(1M) & Dec(1M)
S2, Male, dorsal
🔍S3, Male, dorsal
S2, Male, profile
🔍S3, Male, profile
🔍S3, Male, head
S2, Male, ventral
🔍S3, Male, ventral
Eucalyptus Bug
Amorbus obscuricornis


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Anthony Paul for confirming the id of this species for us

When we asked Danilo Lüdke about gender differences with Amorbus in general, he said "Indeed there's a distinct dimorphism. Males differ from females in having the hind femora much more thickened, the spines more produced, and the shape of the tip of the abdomen is different, females are also bigger."
Imaged 24(13J) in Feb(5:4J), Mar(6:3J), Apr(9:3J), May(2J) & Nov(2:1J)
Adult + Instar
Instar shedding
Eucalyptus Tip Wilter
Amorbus rhombifer


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
The instar we caught was ~14mm long. The adults get a lot larger.
The name refers to the fact they suck the juices out of the new growth of Eucalyptus trees, which then wilt and brown off.
Imaged 4J in Feb(3J) & Mar(1J)
🔍S1, Instar, dorsal
🔍S2, Instar, profile
🔍S3, Instar, dorsal
🔍S3, Instar, dorsal
🔍S3, Instar, profile
🔍S3, Instar, ventral
Crusader Bug
Mictis profana


iNaturalist
Na
e m a f
Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli & Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

4th Instar was ~8mm, 5th instar ~13mm, adult female ~18mm.
A dark grey/black bug with orange stripes on its back & antennae. Nymphs also have orange stripes on their legs. The common name of course comes from the Orange Pattern on the back of the adults. Adult males have very large spines on their rear tibias (legs); these are missing on females.
We are estimating the instar stage based on the colour of the wing buds (more orange=older); along with views on-line of other instar patterns.
The nymphs have 2 raised orange patches on their abdomen which are scent glands; emitting a fowl scent as a defence mechanism. We've never smelt it though.
Notice in the 5th instar the hind wing buds are quite clear in profile view.
Imaged 11(1M,3F,6J) in Jan(3:1M,2J), Feb(1J), Mar(1J), Apr(3:1F,1J), May(1J), Jun(1F) & Sep(1F)
🔍S1, Adult Male, dorsal
🔍S5, 3rd Instar, dorsal
🔍S6, 4th Instar, dorsal
S3, 5th Instar, dorsal
🔍S7, 5th Instar, dorsal
🔍S7, 5th Instar, dorsal, close
🔍S9, Adult Female, dorsal
🔍S9, Adult Female, dorsal
S2, 2nd Instar, profile
🔍S6, 4th Instar, profile
🔍S7, 5th Instar, profile
🔍S9, Adult Female, profile
🔍S9, Adult Female, profile
🔍S6, 4th Instar, Wing Buds
🔍S7, 5th Instar, 2nd Wing Bud
🔍S9, Adult Female, Wing Venation
🔍S6, 4th Instar, Hairy Red Eye
🔍S9, Adult Female, Head
🔍S9, Adult Female, Ocellus
🔍S6, 4th Instar, Proboscis
🔍S6, 4th Instar, Middle Leg Spine
🔍S7, 5th Instar, Rear Leg
🔍S9, Adult Female, Rear Leg
🔍S6, 4th Instar, Rear Leg Spine
🔍S7, 5th Instar, Antenna
🔍S9, Adult Female, Antenna
🔍S7, 5th Instar, Raised Scent Glands
🔍S7, 5th Instar, Pronotum
🔍S9, Adult Female, Pronotum
🔍S9, Adult Female, Scutellum Spur
🔍S9, Adult Female, Spiracles
S1, Adult Male, ventral
🔍S9, Adult Female, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Ground Dwelling Bug (Coreoidea, Hyocephalidae); 1 species from Ellura
Ground Dwelling Bug
Maevius sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for identifying this species for us

~9mm long and flightless.
These dark bugs live under stones in sandy soil & gravel.
They are very rarely found or seen.
We thought this might be Hyocephalus aprugnus. But Danilo said "The fore femora are armed with spines", making it Maevius sp.
They look very similar to juvenile assassin bugs, but their proboscus is straight, not curved. Also their wings are "squared off", nearly all true bug invert wing-buds are rounded.
Usually the number of antennae segments is diagnostic. But you can see here one side has 4 & the other 3. A mutation perhaps? We find this occurs with bugs sometimes. Ratios/lengths of the antennae with 4 segments is diagnostic.
Further Danilo provided a key "The key is as follows (A1-4 = antennal segments)
A3 > A4, A1 > 1.95 mm (at least as long as head), profemora unarmed = Hyocephalus aprugnus
A4 > A3, A1 shorter than head, profemora armed with spines = Maevius".
Imaged 1 in Dec
🔍Female, dorsal
🔍Female, profile
🔍Female, standing
🔍Female, Scaloping on it's back
🔍Female, Face
🔍Female, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Scentless Plant Bug (Coreoidea, Rhopalidae); 1 species from Ellura
Red Eyes Bug
Leptocoris mitellatus


iNaturalist
Na
e m f r
Similar Species: Peaceful Seed Bug (Spilostethus pacificus)
Thank you Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

~13mm long.
A mainly dark grey bug with red/orange highlights.
The instars are very orange/red.
Apparantly they like dark moist places. They don't cause wood rot, but like to live in it. So finding them near a wooden dwelling is an indicator of a leaky roof.
Genital examination is required to separate species within the genus. Accordings to Gross, "This is apparently the commonest of the Australian species and is the only species in Southern Australia." As such we have identified these to species based on location.
On Atlas, SA Museum has since found Leptocoris tagalicus in SA, but they look different; they don't have any black on the body.
Imaged 44(1M,1F,22J) in Feb(3), Mar(5), Apr(23:1M,1F,19J), May(4:1J), Jun(3:1J), Oct(1J), Nov(3) & Dec(2)
🔍Adult, dorsal
🔍Adult, dorsal
🔍Adult, profile
🔍Plague of Adults
Instar
🔍Nursery
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Achilid Planthopper (Hopper: Fulgoroidea, Achilidae); 2 species, 1 from Ellura
Black-laced Planthopper
Plectoderini sp


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Won-Gun Kim for helping with the id of this species for us

Imaged 1 in Dec
Dorsal
Profile
Vertical Wing Achilid Hopper
Tropiphlepsia badia


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Won-Gun Kim, Mark Ridgeway & Nick Lambert for confirming the id of this species for us

Of those we've measured, they range from ~3mm to ~4mm. That's quite a size variation. We're not sure if this is due to gender, normal variation, or actually different species that look the same.
Imaged 6(1J) in Oct
S5, dorsal
S1, profile
🔍S2, profile
S3, profile
S5, profile
S5, profile
S5, profile
S6, profile
S2, wings
S5, Face
S5, Head
S2, ventral
S5, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Lacehopper (Hopper: Fulgoroidea, Cixiidae); 2 species from Ellura
Speckled Lacehopper
Aubirestus semicirculatus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
1st Live Photo on-line:
Imaged 1 in Oct
Profile, ~5mm
Anterior
Dorsal
Mallee Lacehopper
Ozoliarus sp
Na
e m
~6mm body length. Lacehoppers have very chiselled faces which can be useful for id, so always best to get anterior shots. As well as wing venation, dorsal and alantennae & ocellii location.
Notice here the ocelli below the eye in front of the antenna.
Imaged 1 in Nov
🔍Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Eyes
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Dictyopharid Planthopper (Hopper: Fulgoroidea, Dictyopharidae); 4 species from Ellura
Longheaded Hopper
Thanatodictya cf hebe


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Won-Gun Kim for identifying this species for us

This is the more usual type seen, with the straight snout.
WonGun said "According to Kirby (1906), Thanatodictya hebe has 2 cells in the stigma." Later he said "Among the 5 Australian species of the genus Thanatodictya, T. praeferrata and T. bifasciata have distinct features, and so they are easily separable. But the difference between the remaining 3 species is somewhat unclear and their separation based on the key is not easy."
These 3 other known species are T. hebe, T. insignis & T. psyche.
Imaged 1 in Dec
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
Head
Curved Longheaded Hopper
Thanatodictya sp ES01


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Won-Gun Kim for helping with the id of this species for us

We have found that all specimens have different wing venation. It's quite possible that the curved snout and wing venation are not diagnostic. We don't count these as separate species now; until some research is done on them to determine what diagnostic features separate the species.

WonGun said "According to Kirby (1906), ... this one has 3 cells, and so it may be possibly T. insignis." But then when he saw the entire photo, he remarked "The shape of its cephalic process looks unusual."
The "cephalic process" is the curved snout. Looking at other T. insignis, it doesn't seem to match. They generally have longer, even upturned, snouts. It's possible it's a gender variation, but there's not enough knowledge to be sure either way. So have left it at genus.
Imaged 1 in Oct
🔍Profile
Wing Venation Comparison
Longheaded Hopper
Thanatodictya sp ES03


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Imaged 1 in Nov
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
Head
Longheaded Hopper
Thanatodictya sp ES04


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Won-Gun Kim for helping with the id of this species for us

Won-Gun said "The stigma has 2 cells and so, it is one of hebe and psyche. Although Kirkaldy (1906) separates the two species by the darkness/brightness of the front wing, it's hard to tell whether it is darker or paler."
Imaged 1 in Dec
🔍Profile
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Planthopper (Hopper: Fulgoroidea, Eurybrachidae); 3 species, 2 from Ellura
Pale Wattle Hopper
Dardus abbreviatus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NameDardus Wattle Hopper

~3.5mm long
Notice the emarginate eye around the antennae (underneath the eye). There is a knob like process on it, this is diagnostic for the Eurybrachidae family.
Notice the frons (face) is evenly rugose, with no major lumps & bumps; this is diagnostic for the genus.
Notice the red body (barely visible under the wings), one of the diagnostics for the species.
Imaged 1 in Feb
🔍Dorsal
Profile
Red Body
Frons
Head
Wide Legs
🔍Ventral
Wattle Hopper
Dardus sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
A little hopper ~4-5mm long.
You'll notice our specimen has lost one of it's middle feet.
With very dark specimens like these we bump up brightness to highlight details, making the background unrealistically bright. It can be considered a camera artifact and highlights the need to be careful when considering colours in photo's.
Imaged 3 in Jan(1) & Nov(2)
Dorsal
Profile
Face
Antennae
Rear Leg 1
Rear Leg 2
Ventral
Gum Tree Hopper
Platybrachys lurida


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Jason Van Weenen (JVanWeenen) for confirming and Dr Ken Walker & Prof Victor W Fazio III† for helping with the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line
1st Record on Atlas & iNat

Imaged 2 in Nov
Dorsal, ~9mm
Profile
Anterior
Antenna
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Flatid Planthopper (Hopper: Fulgoroidea, Flatidae); 2 species, 1 from Ellura
Grey Planthopper
Anzora unicolor


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Reiner Richter for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 2 in Mar(1) & Apr(1)
Green Planthopper
Siphanta sp
Na
e m a
Imaged 8 in Mar(2), Jun(1), Oct(1), Nov(3) & Dec(1)
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Lantern Fly (Hopper: Fulgoroidea, Fulgoridae); 1 species from Ellura
Lantern Fly
Rentinus dilatatus
Na
e m
Imaged 1 in Aug
Dorsal
Profile
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Ricaniid Planthopper (Hopper: Fulgoroidea, Ricaniidae); 4 species, 3 from Ellura
Broad-winged Planthopper
Aprivesa varipennis


iNaturalist
Na
e m r
1st Live Photo on-line:~6.5mm long, ~19mm wingspan.
Imaged 10 in Jan(1), Feb(1), Sep(1), Oct(3), Nov(2) & Dec(2)
S3, dorsal
🔍S10, dorsal
S1, profile
S3, profile
🔍S10, profile
S1, anterior
S10, Face
🔍S10, Forehead
🔍S10, Head
🔍S10, Wing Venation
S3, ventral
🔍S10, ventral
Undescribed Planthopper
Ricaniidae sp ES01
Na
e m
Imaged 1 in Dec
Dorsal, ~5mm
Profile
Anterior
Hindwing
Ventral
Broad-winged Planthopper
Scolypopa australis


iNaturalist
Na
a
Other Common NamePassionvine Hopper

Thank you Alan Melville for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Record in SA on Atlas:
We don't know what it is, but insects with clear wings and black patterned edges just enthral us
Marie saw this "moth" on the kitchen fly-screen. As soon as I saw it, straight into the insect box into the fridge. Didn't want to miss any important details. Thought it'd be easy to id; never having seen one, and being so unique. The only issue was the location component shows only the eastern seaboard.
Imaged 3 in Feb
Dorsal, ~5mm
Profile
Anterior
Wing
Hairy wing tips
Flat back legs
Posterior
Ventral, close
Ventral
Broad-winged Planthopper
Scolypopa stipata
Na
e m
Imaged 1 in Nov
Profile
Anterior
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Leafhopper (Hopper: Membracoidea, Cicadellidae); 10 species, 8 from Ellura
Mottled-brown Leafhopper
Bakeriana rubra


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Imaged 1 in May
Yellow-headed Leafhopper
Brunotartessus cf fulvus
Na
m
A fierce looking little hopper as an instar.
Quite pretty when fully grown.
Imaged 1 in Sep
Instar
Instar
Milky Planthopper
Cicadellidae sp ES01
Na
e m
There are many species of these little hoppers that have the same body shape, but many different colours & patterns. Body length of this one is ~5mm.
Imaged 2 in Dec
Black-spotted Planthopper
Cicadellidae sp ES04


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Imaged 1 in Oct
Mottled-head Gum-leafhopper
Eurymeloides punctata
Na
e m
Imaged 1 in Nov
Instars with ant
Elegant Hopper
Neovulturnus sp


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Karen Weaving for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 2 in Apr
S1, dorsal
S2, dorsal
S1, profile
S1, profile, closer
Seed Mimicking Leafhopper
Notocephalius hartmeyeri


iNaturalist
Na
e m
1st Live Photo on-line:
What a curious little brown bug this is. ~9mm long (body & snout). Interestingly appendages aren't included in invert lengths; ie wings, legs, antennae, palps, etc. However, the snout on this is so long it doesn't seem fair

The antennae seem tiny, but inspecting underneath shows they start as the typical club like, then finish of as a fine haired, antennae of this family of Hemiptera.
The snout & body is concave under and the whole upper surface is covered in dimples, which reflect in the flash of the camera.
It would be difficult for most animals to feed with the mouth in the middle, but being a true bug, this has a proboscis to such the juices out of plants.
It can articulate quite well in the middle to over come obstacles in the terain and can certainly hop; as it's name implies.
We didn't see if fly though.
It's snout seems to mirror it's wings, perhaps a defensive trait; like the false eyes on butterflies.
There seem to be two pale spots on the snout in front of the eyes, these are possibly defunct ocellii.
Ventrally it's snout is primarily black, with a black stripes on the abdomen. It also seems to be covered in small scales underneath.
Imaged 2 in Aug
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
Forewings
Snout & Ocelli
Antenna tip from above
Antennae from below
Articulation as it tries to right itself
Proboscis
Snout, ventrally
Ventral, posterior construction
Ventral, showing concave body
Tamarix Leafhopper
Opsius stactogalus


iNaturalist
If
e m
Thank you Solomon Hendrix for identifying this species for us

Here's an Australian gov' site: NSW DPI
The antennae are quite long and thin with these (you have to look closely at the 1st photo to see it). There are slight differences with above link and our photo's but this could be due to head tilt & dead vs alive specimens.
Imaged 1 in Feb
Dorsal
Profile
Brown Leafhopper
Orosius orientalis
Na
e m
Imaged 5 in Mar(1), Apr(1), Oct(1), Nov(1) & Dec(1)
Flat-head Leafhopper
Thymbrini sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Solomon Hendrix for identifying this species for us

~10mm. Originally thought this was Stenocotis depressa.
However, you can see the snout is too short and the eyes too large, compared to other images of this species.
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & Dec(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Horned Treehopper (Hopper: Membracoidea, Membracidae); 1 species, none from Ellura
Acacia Horned Treehopper
Sextius virescens


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 7 in Jan(1), Feb(1), Apr(2), Nov(1) & Dec(2)
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Big-eyes Bug (Lygaeoidea, Geocoridae); 1 species from Ellura
Grey Big-eyes Bug
Unicageocoris griseus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for identifying this species for us

~4.5mm long.
We thought the different coloured bugs shown here (red abdominal marks vs green) may have been a different species. But Danilo considers them to be the same species. We can only assume the colour variation is perhaps due to their food source; or perhaps gender. The green specimens also have have less black on their abdomen.
Imaged 6 in Jan(2), Oct(1) & Nov(3)
🔍S4, dorsal, Red Marks
S5, dorsal, Red Marks
🔍S6, dorsal, Green, Less Black
S5, profile
🔍S4, Head
S6, Face
🔍S4, Pronotum
🔍S4, ventral, Red
🔍S6, ventral, Green
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Seed Bug (Lygaeoidea, Lygaeidae); 4 species from Ellura
Green Seed Bug
Lygaeidae sp
Na
e m
Similar Species: Brown Senna Bug (Melanacanthus cf scutellaris)
Thank you to Fabien Piednoir for correcting our error with these

He said "Lygaeidae have 4 antenna segments; 4-segmented antennae are plesiomorphic feature, not characteristic to Lygaeidae, but rather non-Pentatomoidea Pentatomomorpha : Aradoidea + Lygaeoidea + Pyrrhocoroidea + Coreoidea.
Lygaeoidea are actually characterized by the low (4 max) number of wing veins in wing membrane."
Imaged 1 in Oct
Profile
Red-banded Seed-eating Bug
Melanerythrus mactans


iNaturalist
Na
e m r
Similar Species: Peaceful Seed Bug (Spilostethus pacificus)
Thank you Stephen Fricker, Anthony Paul, Fabien Piednoir & Lila (FairyPossum) for confirming the id of this species for us

~8mm long. This specimen seems to have an extra ocellus. We assume this is an aberant mole of sorts, as the ocelli are just above the compound eyes.
Imaged 2 in Sep(1) & Oct(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Ventral
Rutherglen Bug
Nysius vinitor


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Thank you Dr Marina Cheng for confirming the id of this species for us

It's important to clarify that Marina comfirmed our identification on the 1st photo only. She hasn't seen the others, which we have extrapolated ourselves. As always, id of invert's by photo is always suspect but is the only tool we have. Any photographic site like ours can only be considered a guide. But if you only have photo's too, then matching to ours here is a reasonable guess. Our site is a good start for locals to then begin your research to confirm elsewhere.
Imaged 26(3M,3F,2J) in Jan(4), Mar(1), Apr(2), May(1), Jun(2:1J), Jul(1J), Aug(2:1M,1F), Oct(4), Nov(7:1M,1F) & Dec(2:1M,1F)
🔍Dorsal
Profile
Profile
Antenna
Mating
Ventral
Peaceful Seed Bug
Spilostethus pacificus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Similar Species: Horehound Bug (Agonoscelis rutila) : Red-banded Seed-eating Bug (Melanerythrus mactans) : Red Eyes Bug (Leptocoris mitellatus)
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

~11mm long.
A very orange and black bug which is covered in short, fine hairs.
Imaged 1 in Nov
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Face
🔍Anterior
🔍Proboscis
🔍Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Seed Bug (Lygaeoidea, Rhyparochromidae); 3 species, 2 from Ellura
Ant-mimicking Seed Bug
Daerlac cephalotes
Na
a
Thank you Prof Előd Kondorosy for identifying this species for us

We thought it looked very similar to D. cephalotes; but we weren't sure because of the excess red on the shoulders and lack of black lateral lines on the back.
Imaged 1 in Oct
🔍Dorsal
Profile
Iso view
Rostrum extended
🔍Rostrum folded up
Antenna
Posterior
Black & White Seed Bug
Dieuches nudus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NameBlack and White Seed Bug

Thank you Prof Előd Kondorosy for confirming the id of this species for us

~9mm long. 4 segmented antennae, with wings are shorter than the body.
Note the large spur, along with other smaller spines, under each front femur (thigh).
Both lost the end of one of their legs.
Imaged 9 in Jan(2), Feb(1), Mar(1), Apr(1), Jun(1), Aug(1), Nov(1) & Dec(1)
S1, dorsal
S2, dorsal
S2, dorsal, close
S1, profile
S1, Femur Spurs & Spines
S1, anterior, Spurs
S1, Wings
S2, ventral
Grain Bug
Remaudiereana inornata


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

~4.5mm long.
Note the strong/bulbous front legs, with ventral spines on the thigh. The lack of spines on the fore tibia is diagnostic.
The strong legs are surprising, as these would typically be associated with a predator. However these are known as granivores & herbivores; so the strong legs must be associated with a different activity. Perhaps associated with the hard seed shells they feed on (prying open?).
Imaged 1 in Feb
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Leg Spines
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Damsel Bug (Nabidae); 1 species from Ellura
Pacific Damsel Bug
Nabis kinbergii
Na
e m
Similar Species: Brown Senna Bug (Melanacanthus cf scutellaris) : Long Broad-headed Bug (Mutusca brevicornis)
Like Assassin Bugs, these are predatory on other insects (ie carnivorous). Notice the strong front legs as well, to hold the prey.
Imaged 4(2J) in Jun(1), Sep(1J), Oct(1J) & Dec(1)
Dorsal, ~8mm
Profile
Head, dorsal
Proboscis
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Water Boatman (Nepomorpha: Corixidae); 2 species from Ellura
Water Boatman
Agraptocorixa cf eurynome
Na
e m
Imaged 5 in Feb(1), Mar(2), Nov(1) & Dec(1)
Dorsal
Profile
Ventral & Size of 9mm
Under & Eyes
"Flippers" & Size, Adult with Instar
Instar; Stripy & Neck Triangle
Instar; Dappled
Striped Water Boatman
Sigara sp
Na
e m
~7mm long with horizontal stripes on the pronotum, transverse grooves on the rostrum with no ocelli. Notice the curved inside of the forewing.
Imaged 1 in Feb
Dorsal
Profile
Pronotum
Rostrum
Anterior
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Water Scorpions (Nepomorpha: Nepidae); 1 species, none from Ellura
Needle Bug
Ranatra dispar


iNaturalist
Na
m
Thank you Dr Matthew Pintar for confirming the id of this species for us

Imaged 1 in Mar
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Backswimmer (Nepomorpha: Notonectidae); 3 species from Ellura
Golden-shouldered Backswimmer
Anisops cf deanei


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Matthew Pintar for confirming the id of this species for us

~6mm long
It can be difficult to determine, but the back legs are covered in long hairs that look a bit like fins when they swim. They serve the same purpose.
Matthew said "Maybe but these really need closer inspection to verify"
Further we asked Matthew why we were seeing them in our area, being semi-arid and no sitting water for kms it seemed strange they'd land here. We suggested they fly high up in the rain clouds and saw our roof and interpretted as a lake. In response Matthew said "Yes, they can be attracted to the polarization of light off of flat shiny surfaces when they fly at night".
This would also explain why we found them on the newer attached shed roof, but not on the older (~7 year old) house roof.
Imaged 5 in Jan(1), Feb(1), Mar(2) & Jun(1)
🔍S5, dorsal
🔍S5, profile
🔍S5, profile
🔍S5, Front Legs
S2, Rear Legs
S2, Rear Leg Hairs
S2, ventral
🔍S5, ventral
Yellow Backswimmer
Anisops sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m r
Thank you Dr Matthew Pintar for confirming the id of this species for us

~7mm long. Mainly yellow with orange patch on top and black stripes underneath (which is what would normally be seen from above).
We thought these might be Anisops planifascies, but Matthew said "it seems unlikely to be a larger species not known from this area"
A quantity (~10 or so) came to a night light in February.
Imaged 4 in Feb(2), Jun(1) & Oct(1)
S1, dorsal
🔍S4, dorsal
S1, profile
🔍S4, profile
🔍S4, Front Leg
S1, anterior
S4, anterior
S1, ventral
🔍S4, ventral
Large Backswimmer
Anisops stali


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Matthew Pintar for identifying this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
1st Photo on Atlas:

~10 -> ~12mm long.
We think the black tick marks on the pronotums are damage.
There was a lot of pitter-patter on our nearly flat colourbond roof. Sounded like the start of rain, but kept going, with no rain. Got the ladder out and picked up 5 species of water-related insects hopping around within a few minutes. It's like they interpret our roof as a lake, so drop in from rain clouds looking to breed; only to find no water.
Matthew said "By far the largest species in Australia". In relation to be attracted to the roof, Matthew also said "Yes, they can be attracted to the polarization of light off of flat shiny surfaces when they fly at night". Interestingly we noted they were mainly on the newly attached (shiny) shed roof, not the 7 year old house roof, which has dulled.
Imaged 2 in Jun
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S2, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
🔍S2, profile
S1, Face
🔍S1, anterior
S2, Antenna
🔍S1, Front Legs
🔍S2, Front Legs
🔍S1, Rearl Leg, dorsal
🔍S2, Rear Legs & Hair, dorsal
🔍S1, Rear Leg, ventral
🔍S2, Rear Legs & Hair, ventral
🔍S1, Proboscis
🔍S1, ventral
🔍S2, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Shield Bug (Pentatomoidea, Cydnidae); 2 species from Ellura
Burrowing Bug
Adrisa sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m f
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

~9mm long
Danilo said "Adrisa simply has 4 antennal segments (3 visible from above) and the second (first visible) extremely long."
Imaged 5(1J) in Jan(1), Feb(2:1J) & Nov(2)
Nymph, dorsal
🔍Adult, dorsal
Nymph, profile
Adult, profile
Adult, Wing Venation
🔍Adult, Face Sculpture & Hair
Nymph, anterior
Adult, Face Sculpture
Nymph, ventral
🔍Adult, ventral
Segmented-antennae Burrowing Bug
Geotomini sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for identifying this species for us

~5mm long, smaller than Adrisa
We thought these were Adrisa.
Danilo said, when comparing to Adrisa, "All other Geotomini have 5 segments of more or less equal length."
Imaged 6 in Jan(1), Feb(1), Mar(1), Jun(1), Oct(1) & Nov(1)
S4, dorsal
🔍S5, dorsal
S3, profile
🔍S5, profile
S4, anterior
🔍S5, Antennae
S5, Ocelli
S4, posterior
S5, ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Stink Bug (Pentatomoidea, Pentatomidae); 29 species, 20 from Ellura
Horehound Bug
Agonoscelis rutila
Na
e m
Similar Species: Peaceful Seed Bug (Spilostethus pacificus)
Even though Horehound is introduced, this bug is native.
Bright orange with black blotches on top and black stripes under.
Black legs.
Imaged 2 in Mar(1) & Jun(1)
Dorsal
🔍Feeding
Acacia Shield Bug
Alcaeus lignicolor


iNaturalist
Na
e m
~17mm long. Notice the side spines one the pronotum are very much reduced compared with A. varicornis.
It's surprisingly difficult to see, but the leading edges of the pronotum also have small spines/teeth (this occurs on both Alcaeus species we have depicted here). Note though the edges of the abdomen seem less serated compared to most pentatomids, looking almost smooth edged.
We have separated out our species based on the "shoulder" spines. However this could be gender based, so will need to revisit, as Danilo Lüdke said "A. uniformis & A. hermannsburgi lack any subdivision of the 2nd antennal segment. From Gross: "females with lateral angles of pronotum acute, angles in males generally less spinously produced". I usually consider the black lines on the head on either side of the midline. According to Gross, the lines are "usually" not continued forward onto jugum to the antennae in lignicolor, while angling exteriorly about halfway the length of the head and continued forward to the antennae in varicornis."
Imaged 8(3J) in Feb(2), May(2J), Jun(1J), Oct(1) & Dec(2)
S1, dorsal
S2, dorsal
S3, dorsal
S3, profile
S3, Pronotum
S2, ventral
Spined Acacia Shield Bug
Alcaeus varicornis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

Very similar in appearance to A. lignicolor, but larger insects along with heavier/longer spines on the side of the pronotum. The scutellar spine (the body armour at the back of the body where the wings start, that curls up slightly and has the pale patch on it) appears to be thicker with these that A. lignicolor.
Imaged 1 in Jan
Spines
Posterior
Spotted Exocarpos Bug
Aplerotus maculatus


iNaturalist
Na
e m f r
Thank you Martin Lagerwey & Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

~8.5mm long
Imaged 26(2M,3J) in Apr(3), May(15:1J), Sep(1M), Oct(2J), Nov(2) & Dec(3:1M)
Instar
Instars, dorsal
Instar, small, profile
Instar, large, profile
Instar, ventral
Adults, front & back
Adult, shield
Family group
Lovely Flat-headed Bug
Cephaloplatus (Cephaloplatus) bellus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
SynonymCephaloplatus bellus

Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
~9.5mm. This is the most southerly record of them on Atlas.
Had 2 come on the same night to the light sheet in January.
There are 2 specimens at SA Museum, with variations in the face shield protrusion/horn. In Gross' drawings they point forward slightly. Here they don't, and in the SA Museum species they have one that does and one that doesn't.
Danilo said "I believe the small differences in the dilations of the head and pronotum we can observe between specimens are due to natural variation, or perhaps sexual dimorphism."
Imaged 3 in Jan
🔍S1, Female, dorsal
🔍S2, Female, dorsal
🔍S1, Female, profile
🔍S2, Female, profile
🔍S1, Female, Face
🔍S2, Female, Face
🔍S2, Female, Face Shield Profile
🔍S1, Female, Antennae & Pronotum
🔍S1, Female, Scutellum & Wing Venation
🔍S2, Female, Scutellum & Wing Venation
🔍S1, Female, ventral
🔍S2, Female, ventral
Brown Soldier Bug
Cermatulus nasalis ssp nasalis


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Other Common NameGlossy Shield Bug

Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

~10mm long. This is the only sub-species found in Australia. The other 2 are from New Zealand.
1. It's VERY dark brown, with a golden metallic sheen. Photo's on-line show lighter coloured specimens out there as well.
2. Has a VERY heavy/thick rostrum/proboscis; indicating it's predatory nature. Not a plant sucking bug.
3. A black spot on each "corium".
4. Rear-ward pointing spines on rear edge of the pronotum, which are very difficult to detect. These are quite unique in our local bug world.
5. Pale bands on the legs.
6. 5 antenna segments (including the base).

A predatory bug that feeds on caterpillars.
Imaged 1 in Apr
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile showing the Proboscis
🔍Antenna
🔍Head
🔍Pronotum Spine and Black Spot
🔍Highlighted Features
🔍Ventral
Green Emubush Bug
Cuspicona eremophilae


iNaturalist
Na
f
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for identifying and Tony and Jenny Dominelli for confirming the id of this species for us

~6mm long.
These are very rare and are usually found on Emubushes (Eremophila sp). This came to the kitchen window light.
We confused this for the introduced Southern Green Stink Bug (Nezara viridula).
Danilo said id can be made "based on the very short 3rd antennal segment, even less than half the length of the 2nd".
Imaged 1 in Sep
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S1, Pronotum
Black-spotted Shield Bug
Cuspicona intacta


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Won-Gun Kim for confirming the id of this species for us

~10mm long, covered in punctuations, randomly splattered with black. The black patches are not easily visible to the naked eye.
Most Cuspicona are green, but turn yellow brown after death (ie Museum Specimens). Gross didn't find one during his work, and the holotype was lost. As such, he didn't realise they are yellow brown in life too.
These are supposed to have 5 antennal segments, but as we have been found before with this family, this one has 5 segments on one antenna and 4 on the other. A deformation, not a lost tip. The 1st segments are very pale, with the 3rd segment turning red/brown towards the far end.
The head looks quite long and pointy, yet is wider (at the eyes) than long. This is probably due to the face narrowing quickly below the eyes.
Notice the transparent wings that look white, compared to normally dark/black wings.
We have noted the Keels on this type of bug before. Notice here how it is definately used as a support for the proboscis; it's cupped to fit.
These are known to feed on Eremophila freelingii, which is not found in our region but much further North.
However it was found on a flyscreen adjacent to a patch of Eremophila longifolia. One can surmise the one we found feeds on that species of emu bush too. It does look similar to an E. longifolia drying fruit.
Imaged 2 in Feb
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Antenna
Eyes
Keel, ventral
Keel, profile
Ventral
Long-spined Shield Bug
Cuspicona longispina


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Thomas Mesaglio for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
Basically a green bug, ~6mm long, Adult & Nymph. The one adult we found has an orange head, yellow go stripes that form a 'v' on it's back, with white under
The main diagnostic features are the massive horns/spindes protruding up & slightly forward from it's pronotum, as well as the horizonal black band made by punctuations across the pronotum (between the horns).
Of interest is the large ventral keel. While this occurs to some degree in some other shield bugs, here the proboscis is pushed to one side.
It also had a habit of folding it's antennae underneath.
Pinned specimens loose their striking colours, becoming a pale brown. Live photo's in this case make field recognition so much easier

Notice how different the colour of the Nymph is. We think the nymph is a 5th instar female based on the fact it has wing buds, shape of posterior & lack of a "keel". Originally we thought it was Neagenor, perhaps N. spinosus, but it's body seemed too rounded & the antennae didn't fit.
We've selected this species for the nymph because:
1. The spines seems to match the adult pretty well.
2. The front of the "face" is wide & rounded, unlike the other spiny Cuspiconas we get in SA.
3. We've had the adult here before.
While the nymphs lost one antennae (found like that) the black "tear" on the underside isn't damage. It's symetrical on both sides. So just the shape of it's shell.
Imaged 2(1M,1F,1J) in May(1:1F,1J) & Sep(1M)
🔍S1, Male, dorsal
🔍S2, Female, Nymph, dorsal
🔍S1, Male, profile
🔍S2, Female, Nymph, profile
🔍S1, Male, anterior
🔍S2, Female, Nymph, Face
S2, Female, Nymph, Spine, anterior
🔍S2, Female, Spine Teeth
S1, Male, posterior
🔍S1, Male, Ventral Keel
🔍S2, Female, No Ventral Keel
S1, Male, ventral
🔍S2, Female, Nymph, ventral
Visible Net-veined Shield Bug
Dictyotus conspicuus


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

~8.5mm long.
Imaged 1 in Nov
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Head
🔍Posterior
🔍Ventral
Pink-rimmed Shield Bug
Diemenia rubromarginata


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

~11mm long, which is reasonably small.
Primarily black top & bottom, with a beige to pink rim around the body. The black sometimes protrudes to the outside edge. Here they don't and used to be considered different sub-species where they did.
While they generally have 4 antennae segments, you'll notice one here only has 3 on one and 4 on the other. Normally you'd consider this a loss of one tip, but the remaining tip seems longer and rounded. Possibly a malformed antenna rather than a broken one.
At each antenna base, they have a large hooked spine protruding forward. This is called the "antennophore".
When we saw one on iNat with a strange wing shape, Danilo said "The genus exhibits considerable wing polymorphism. Also thanks to the many users who share their observations in iNat, we now know much more about it. In the past, specimens with distinctive wing differences were actually considered new species, but this soon turned out to be wrong. The distinctive feature is the shape of the pale lobe just in front of the eyes, which fits D. rubromarginata, while in the three other described species it is more or less spinously produced."
An uncommon find. We found two one year in Jan & Feb.
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & Feb(1)
S2 Female, dorsal
S1 Female, dorsal
S2 Female, profile
S1 Female, ventral
Large Snouted Stink Bug
Kalkadoona enchylaenae


iNaturalist
Na
e m f
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
~7.5mm long. You can see here the "spots" are actually dark coloured punctuations in the exoskeleton.
Danilo said "It leaves me with some very tiny doubts about K. confinis (length of 2nd antennal segment, shape of the anterolateral margin of the pronotum, coloring of the connexivum).
But as Gross himself doubted and ended up considering the big and dark ones as enchylaenae and the small and pale ones as confinis, we can do the same as your specimen matches the key and is dark and over 7 mm :)"
Imaged 6 in Jan(1), Apr(2), Sep(1) & Oct(2)
S1, dorsal
🔍S5, dorsal
🔍S6, dorsal
S2, Punctuations
S1, Head
🔍S5, Head
🔍S5, Pronotum
S1, ventral
Small Snouted Stink Bug
Kalkadoona sp


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

~5.5mm long.
It seems with some inverts, size does matter!
We thought this might be a smaller specimen of Kalkadoona enchylaenae, but Danilo said "It's somehow also close to K. confinis as particularly the description of the black portions fits well. But the antennal segments 2 & 3 are indeed of almost equal length as you said. If the two forms are really closely related, even mating is possible."
Imaged 3 in Jan(1), Feb(1) & Mar(1)
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
🔍S3, Antenna & Head
🔍S1, Head
🔍S1, Proboscis
🔍S1, ventral
Rounded Shield Bug
Kapunda tepperi


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
From ~4.5mm (males) to ~6mm (females) long. Males have concave (cup-like) rear end while females have a convex (oval) rear end.
Notice the wing lengths are variable even within gender.
Differentiating K. tepperi & K. troughtoni is not easy as they both vary somewhat.
The easiest way to differentiate them is by the trailing edge of the pronotum (posterolateral margin); it's bent in sharpely (angulately incised) in K. troughtoni, while smoothly curved in K. tepperi.
Another way is the shape of the face edges (lateral margins) in front of the eyes; they are bent in sharpely (acutely concave) in K. tepperi, while smoothly curved in K. troughtoni. But this 2nd difference is VERY prone to error as the angle of the camera has a significant impact on viewing the facial angles.
Danilo said "Also the transverse depression of the pronotum and the shortened membrane (Gross 1976: never observed in K. troughtoni) indicate K. tepperi."
Imaged 5(3M,2F) in Feb(1M), Mar(1M) & Dec(3:1M,2F)
S1, Female, dorsal
🔍S2, Female, dorsal
🔍S5, Male, dorsal
S1, Female, profile
🔍S5, Male, profile
S1, Female, Face
S2, Female, Face
S5, Male, face
S1, Female, ventral
🔍S5, Male, ventral
Sharp Shield Bug
Kapunda troughtoni


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Thank you Dr Mallik Malipatil for identifying and Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
From ~4.5mm to ~6mm long.
This genus has a distinctively blunt snout for a shield bug; with relatively short antennae that come from under the snout, not the side or front like most others.
Imaged 6(2M,4F) in Feb(2F), Sep(1M), Oct(2F) & Dec(1M)
S2, Female, dorsal
🔍S6, Male, dorsal
S2, Female, profile
S1, Female, Face
S6, Male, Face
S1, Female, Hindwings
S1, Female, posterior
S2, Female, ventral
Dusky Plant Bug
Minchamia hubbardae


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Ryan Shofner for confirming the id of this species for us

~14mm long.
A very scoop like snout and striped body.
Came to a night light sheet.
Imaged 2 in Mar
🔍Dorsal
🔍Scoop like Snout
🔍Anterior
🔍Ventral
Spiny Shield Bug
Neagenor spinosus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
SynonymNeagenor spinosa

Thank you Karen Weaving & Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

Adults ~18mm to ~20mm. Males & females are separated by the shape of their rear end. They seem to be the same size.
Neagenors are highlighted by heavy shoulder spines.
Note the unusual black tip to the scutellum here; typically it's pale or the same colour as the body in other Pentatomids. Also note how it's curled up; typically being flat or slightly raised. Danilo noted this as "the reflexed tip of the scutellum".
Note also the unusual polka-dot pattern to the wings.
We can't be sure the nymph is the same species as the adults. However, we have only found one 1 adult Neagenor species here so far, and think it's a reasonable assumption it is the same species.
Imaged 5(2M,2F,1J) in Feb(2:1M,1F), Mar(1M), Apr(1F) & Oct(1J)
S1, Nymph, dorsal
🔍S2, Female, dorsal
🔍S3, Male, dorsal
🔍S4, Male, dorsal
🔍S5, Female, dorsal
🔍S2, Female, profile
🔍S3, Male, profile
🔍S4, Male, profile
🔍S5, Female, profile
🔍S1, Nymph, isometric
S1, Nymph, anterior
🔍S2, Female, anterior
🔍S4, Male, anterior
🔍S2, Female, Head & Scutellum
🔍S5, Female, Scutellum's Reflexed Tip
🔍S2, Female, Scutellum, profile
🔍S3, Male, close up
🔍S5, Female, Ocelli
🔍S5, Female, "Shoulder" Spine & Teeth
🔍S4, Male, Wings Slightly Open
🔍S5, Female, Wing Venation
🔍S3, Male, Antenna
🔍S5, Female, Hairy Antennae
🔍S2, Female, posterior
🔍S3, Male, posterior
🔍S2, Female, ventral
🔍S3, Male, ventral
🔍S4, Male, ventral
🔍S5, Female, ventral
Forward-spined Shield Bug
Neagenor transcontinentalis


iNaturalist
Na
r
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line
1st Atlas record since 1909
:
We are really VERY excited
While we love helping people and discovering the wildlife we have around us, moments like this are like the gold nugget to the prospector.
In our recent pit trapping adventure we found a shield bug, a Neagenor sp of some sort.
Only 2 records on Atlas, with 2 photo's of a dead specimen from 1909, which Gross eludes to in his 1971 description.
Imaged 1 in Oct
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Head & Spine
🔍Ventral
Spined Predatory Shield Bug
Oechalia schellenbergii


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Other Common NameSchellenberg's Soldier Bug

Thank you (LifeIsAmazing ) & Simon Ong for confirming the id of this species for us

~8mm long.
As the common name suggests it has spines (that lift up and back from the shoulders).
It preys on & consumes insect larvae.
Imaged 7(3J) in Feb(1J), Mar(2:1J), Jul(1), Oct(1J) & Nov(2)
Adult, dorsal
Adult, profile
Adult, anterior
Adult, Wing Venation
Adult, ventral
Pale Morph Nymph, dorsal
Gum-tree Shield Bug
Omyta centrolineata ssp siccior


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you David Muirhead for confirming the id of this species for us

~17mm long. These only have 3 antennae segments, which is less than most others at 4 or 5. However, the colour banding makes them look like 4 segments, so you need to pay close attention to the actual segment separtion; not just colour.
Notice the spurs on each antenna base under the head.
It seems some specimens have longer spines than others. Possibly a gender difference?
Imaged 18(9J) in Jan(1), Feb(3), Mar(2), Apr(1), May(2:1J), Jun(1J), Aug(2J), Sep(1J), Oct(3J) & Nov(2:1J)
S9, dorsal
S9, profile
S9, Head
S2, Longer Spines
S6, 3 Segment Anteanna
Brown Stink Bug
Oncocoris apicalis


iNaturalist
Na
f
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

Initially we thought this was Gum Tree Shield Bug (Theseus modestus), but when reviewing to post here we realised it didn't look right and that it was too small.
Apart from size, this is also squatter (shorter compared with width) than T. modestus. So hunted thru Gross' volumes and found this species.
Imaged 1 in Sep
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S1, anterior
Toad Stink Bug
Platycoris rugosus


iNaturalist
Na
a
SynonymHypogomphus rugosus

Males are considerably smaller than females at ~8mm long, while larger females are ~11mm.
We found two copulating allowing us to show the difference in sizes & posterior shapes.
As their common name suggests, they are very rotund bugs compared with other Pentatomidae.
This species is quite brown, with some reddish overtones.
Rugosus indicates the rough text of it's upper body. Directly translated means "full of wrinkles, folds or creases".
Imaged 5(1M,2F) in Jan(3:1M,2F), Mar(1) & Apr(1)
🔍S4, Female, dorsal
🔍S5, Male, dorsal
🔍S4 & S5, Mating
🔍S5, Male, profile
🔍S4, Female, posterior
🔍S5, Male, posterior
🔍S4, Female, ventral
🔍S5, Male, ventral
Reddish Shield Bug
Poecilometis alienus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you David Muirhead for confirming the id of this species for us

The males were ~11mm & ~12mm, while the female was ~13mm long.
The 2nd specimen, male, is much redder than the others, which is possibly caused by freshly moulting.
Imaged 3(2M,1F) in Jun(2:1M,1F) & Dec(1M)
S1, Female, dorsal
S2, Male, dorsal
🔍S3, Male, dorsal
S1, Female, profile
S2, Male, profile
🔍S3, Male, profile
S1, Female, Head
S2, Male, Proboscus Shield
S2, Male, Face
🔍S3, Male, Body
🔍S3, Male, Antenna
🔍S1, Female, ventral & Spriacles
🔍S3, Male, ventral
Brown Shield Bug
Poecilometis fuscescens


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mike Burrell for confirming the id of this species for us

~17mm long.
When identifiying Poecilometis, leg colour, antennae colour & segments, body colour and shoulder spines (or not) are all useful diagnostics. They can have different shades of colour, but generally the patterns are consistent. Notice here the spiny shoulders, pattern of beige blotches on the dark reddish base colour. Legs have pale sections and the antennae generally have orange on one side of the segment joins but not the other.
Here we have been able to separate the genders of some of our specimens where we have managed a ventral shot. You can see the shape of the rear end is quite different between the one male we found, to all the other females. Interestingly, we've deduced that you can differentiate the genders by counting the abdominal spines from above. Males have 4 visible pairs, females have 5. On the male, the spines on the 5 segment exist, but are narrower than the wings. You need a 90 angle shot to see this. In too much of a profile angle, all 5 are visible.
We have found Poecilometis with different antennal segment counts on the specimen, so these can't be relied on completely. NB: Here, S3, clearly has it's right-hand antennae tip truncated, it's a blunt end. So not useful for an antennal segment count.
Imaged 11(1M,8F,1J) in Jan(1F), Feb(1F), Mar(5:4F), Jul(1F), Aug(1J), Sep(1F) & Dec(1M)
🔍S3, Adult, Female, dorsal
🔍S5, Adult, Female, dorsal
🔍S11, Adult, Female, dorsal
🔍S5, Adult, Female, profile
🔍S11, Adult, Female, Head & Pronotum
🔍S5, Adult, Female, close up
🔍S7, Adult, Male, close up
🔍S5, Adult, Female, antenna
S3, Adult, Female, anterior
S9, Adult, Female, posterior
S3, Adult, Female, ventral
🔍S5, Adult, Female, ventral
🔍S7, Adult, Male, ventral
🔍S9, Adult, Female, ventral
Long Gum-tree Shield Bug
Poecilometis strigatus


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you David Muirhead for confirming the id of this species for us

~16-17mm with 4 antennae segments. The proportion of the length of one segment to another is diagnostic. Gross gives the ratio of these as 45:95:70:65. Importantly the shoulders/pronotum are not spined with these.
The binomial name of "strigatus" implies these are "longer than wide"
Overal size is also important when id'ing these Poecilometis, as < 15mm involves a different subset of bugs.
Notice the colour of the emerging adult is nearly white. It's easy to find different colours from very pale to almost black as they age. We have also found nymphs having a large range of colour density (pale to dark). Shown here is a dark nymph. It's only a guess that this nymph is this species, but given the large number of adults we've found in the area, and the other diagnostic features fit (antennae segments, antennae & leg colour, etc), except for size of course.
Also called Stink bugs. While we've never smelt the odour they produce, some species can emit a cocktail involving cyanide as a defence mechanism. Shown here is the "efferent of scent gland" or orifice that the foul smelling odour excudes from.
Also shown here are the spiracles (breathing holes), which are black, along the ventral side of the abdomen.
Imaged 46(22J) in Jan(2:1J), Feb(3:1J), Mar(5:4J), Apr(17:11J), May(4:1J), Jun(4:2J), Jul(2:1J), Aug(1), Sep(2), Oct(4:1J) & Nov(2)
Adult, dorsal
Adult, dorsal
Adult, dorsal
Adult, dorsal
Nymph, dorsal
Adult, profile
Nymph, profile
Adult, emerging
Adult, wing venation
Adult, posterior
Adult, scent gland opening
Adult, spiracles
Adult, proboscis resting position
Adult, proboscis feeding position
Adult, ventral
Nymph, ventral
Shield Bug
Poecilometis vermiculatus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Mark Newton for identifying and Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
Considered a rare species.
Varies from black to light brown (tan) to cinnamon
Adults are quite distinguished with white "bow tie" spot at the end of their wing shield, finishing with jet black diamond vest formed by the wing tips.
Found on Acacia and Beyeria opaca.
Imaged 3(1M,1F) in Jan(2:1M,1F) & Oct(1)
🔍S1, Adult, dorsal
S1, Adult, profile
Beautiful Plant Bug
Poecilotoma callosa


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

1st Live Photo on-line:
~10mm long.
Danilo said "Antennal segment IV seems shorter than III and the shape of the luteous patch of the scutellum is distinctive and different in any other described species. Also fits the allotype well."
Imaged 2 in Mar(1) & Dec(1)
🔍S1, dorsal
🔍S1, profile
🔍S1, Head
🔍S2, Punctuations
🔍S1, ventral
Pittosporum Bug
Pseudapines geminata


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Thank you Dee Petersen & Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

These are quite small bugs. We haven't measured one, but adults are ~7mm long.
Early instars are circular, elongating to an oval shape as they age. 1st instars only have 2 white spots (one on each site), getting more as they molt. Instars are black with white spots/patches and orange antennae, while adults attain some orange/chestnut highlights to the edge of the body. The adult patterns are very consistent between specimens
Underneath, they are very pale, and the legs have a blue tinge to them.
Imaged 21(10J) in Feb(7:4J), Mar(5:3J), Apr(5:2J), May(3:1J) & Sep(1)
🔍Adult, dorsal
Adult, dorsal
🔍Adult, profile
🔍Adult & Nymph
Two Instars
Adult, anterior
🔍Adult, ventral
Green Shield Bug
Rhynchocorini sp


iNaturalist
Na
a
Thank you Danilo Lüdke for identifying and Won-Gun Kim for helping with the id of this species for us

A mainly green bug, ~8.5mm long.
Notice the lack of any horns protruding from the sides of the pronotum. Small horns would indicate C. simplex
Like the Long-spined Shield Bug, this species has a keel, but is not as noticeable. You can just see it in the profile shot. The ventral shot shows the shorter proboscis & little evidence of the keel.
Originally thought to be Cuspicona simplex, then C. eremophilae, then Cuspicona privata, Ocirrhoe prasinata. As you can see, difficult to separate.
Won-Gun also said "the shapes of the posterolateral pronotal margin, the scutellum, etc. For example, the posterolateral margin is relatively straight and relatively horizontal in C. privata when compared with O. prasinata. In addition, the dorsal surface of this bug is much closer to C. simplex than the species of the genus Ocirrhoe."
Notice that the wings are almost clear, and the edges of the abdomen have small black tipped spines on the edges of the "laterotergites" (abdominal segments). Danilo said "The laminate anterolateral margin of the pronotum is continuing onto the region of the humeral angle, which explicitely mentioned by Gross separates O. prasinata and allies from the C. thoracica group including C. privata. Also the basal scutellal foveae are visible here."
After exploding the images up, and adding more of the same specimen Danilo downgraded the id saying "From the pygophore we can at least clearly say that this is NOT Ocirrhoe prasinata." A case of needing the specimen under a microscope to differentiate.
Of course it's always possible it's undescribed.
Imaged 1 in Apr
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Anterior
🔍Size
🔍Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Shield Backed Bug (Pentatomoidea, Scutelleridae); 3 species from Ellura
Red Jewel Bug
Choerocoris paganus


iNaturalist
Na
e m a r c
Other Common NameDodonaea bug

Thank you Danilo Lüdke for confirming the id of this species for us

~12mm long. We suspect the different coloured shield (ie all dark vs wine glass shaped stripe) relates to different gender; with the females having the wine glass shape. We've included some shots of them mating to prove their variation in colour occurs within the same species and to show the size differences. Males seem thicker at the back, while females are wider and larger overall.
An amazing array of fire engine red and deep metallic green head and shield.
There are 6 small white dots around the rear edge of the abdomen.
Imaged 27(7M,11F,2J) in Jan(6:1M,3F), Mar(2:1F), Apr(3:1F,1J), May(2:1M,1J), Oct(2) & Dec(12:5M,6F)
🔍Female, dorsal
🔍Female, profile
🔍Female, Head
🔍Female, Face
🔍Female, Ostiole
🔍Female, ventral
🔍Female, posterior
🔍Instar
🔍Female, Back
🔍Female, Red Face
🔍Female, Brown
🔍Female, Orange
🔍Male, Green Face
🔍They think they are the same species!
🔍Mating, Female to the Left
🔍Mating, Female to the Right
Variable Shield Bug
Choerocoris variegatus


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Thank you Matthew Connors for confirming the id of this species for us

Similar in shape to the Dodonaea bug above, but very different colours and patterns. While still shiny, doesn't have the metallic lustre.
The instars of these are similar to the adults.
As the name suggests they are very variable; ranging from off-white under, to yellow to reddish (examples elsewhere show bright orange). Primarily coloured with black patches. The back is also covered in dimples.
The face of our specimens have 3 strong pale longitudinal stripes (which is atypical), topped off by the 2 typical red Ocelli.
While they are listed as eating Beyeria lechenaultii, here they are on Beyeria opaca (not listed as a food source). We also found one on Pearl Bluebush; perhaps it was lost.
Also notice how the varying thickness of black makes a large difference to the patterns made (and how the specimens look)
Imaged 16(2J) in Sep(3), Oct(2) & Nov(11:2J)
Yellow Early Instar, dorsal
Yellow Later Instar, dorsal
Yellow Later Instar, profile
Yellow Later Instar, ventral
Pale Adult, dorsal
Pale Adult, profile
Pale Adult, front
Pale Adult, ventral
Reddish Adult, face
Reddish Adult, dorsal
Reddish Adult, Dark Coloured
Reddish Adult, front, dorsal
Reddish Adult, front, profile
Reddish Adult, front, ventral
Reddish Adult, profile, rear
Reddish Adult, rear
Reddish Adult, vent
Reddish Adults, 14 in this pic alone
Yellow Adult, dorsal
Yellow Adult, posterior
Yellow Adult, dorsal
Yellow Adult, profile
Yellow Adult, anterior
Yellow Adult, ventral
Green Shield Backed Bug
Coleotichus costatus


iNaturalist
Na
e m a
Thank you Cynthia Chan for confirming the id of this species for us

~15mm long. A lightly toned, large bug.
We found one on Dodonaea & another on Acacia. The 3rd came to the night light/sheet.
They have lots of tiny maroon dots on pale brown around the edge of their backs match the Dodonaea fruit perfectly. These maroon & green dots are the colour of the punctuations scattered all over it.
It also has very distinctive purple spots around the edge underneath.
They can vary from brown to green.
Red compound eyes with two red jewels (actually an Ocellus, simple eye), one above each compound eye.
You'll notice in the ventral shot it was photo-bombed by a Ruthenburg bug that were inundating the light sheet that night.
While the shield (scutellum) is solid, they have wings and can fly. Cynthia kindly explained this, along with other consideration: "The scutellum is a structure that arises from the thoracic segments and is associated with but is not a part of the wings. In the case of the Scutelleridae, the enlarged scutellum which is characteristic for the group (hence their name) extends over the two pairs of flight wings to protect them much in the same way that elytra (hardened forewings) in beetles protect the hindwings. Because of the similarity in their appearance scutellerids are often mistaken for beetles though what we are seeing on their dorsum are entirely different parts of the insect.
Scutellerids are quite good fliers, and the large scutellum does not hinder their wings. The wings are slid out from under the scutellum and unfold to extend laterally." There are futher links to images on the iNaturalist page linked here.
Imaged 3 in Jan(2) & Mar(1)
🔍Dorsal
🔍Dorsal
🔍Profile
🔍Feet
🔍Shield
🔍Antenna
🔍Face & Pronotum
🔍Purple Spots
🔍Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Psylloid (Psylloidea); 1 species from Ellura
Orange Jumping Plant Louse
Psylloidea sp
Na
e m
Thank you Dr Francesco Martoni for helping with the id of this species for us

~3mm long, ~7mm wingspan.
Francesco said "Any psylloid that makes lerps is currently in the subfamily Spondyliaspidinae (family Aphalaridae)."
Because we follow Atlas taxon definitions, we had this marked under family Psyllidae. Seems this will change.
To keep things correct we've used the super-family name, Psylloidea, for now and applied those we know create lerps under the sub-family.
As the family Psyllidae still exists, the common name Psyllid has now been replaced by Psylloid to highlight the group is now referring to the super-family, rather just the single family of old.
Imaged 1 in Apr
Dorsal
Profile
Anterior
Wing Venation
Antenna
Hairs
Ventral
Animals (Animalia) - Jointed Legs (Arthropoda) - Insects (Insecta) - True Bugs (Hemiptera); 122 species, 98 from Ellura - Lerp Making Psylloid (Psylloidea: Spondyliaspidinae); 3 species from Ellura
Melaleuca psylloid
Boreioglycaspis melaleucae


iNaturalist
Na
e m
Many small birds rely on psylloids for survival, so an important cog in the biosphere of Ellura
Imaged 2 in Jan(1) & May(1)
Profile
White Clam Lerp
Cardiaspina sp
Na
e m a
Thank you Dr Francesco Martoni for identifying this species for us

We thought this was Hyalinaspis sp.
There is a bit of confusion with the naming of these. The Lerp is the housing. The bug inside is a Psylloid that produces the lerp; the bug isn't a lerp.
Imaged 16(8J) in Mar(1J), Apr(2J), May(11:4J), Jun(1) & Jul(1J)
Lerps
🔍Early Instar
🔍Later Instar
Adult
Adult with instars
White Fibrous Lerp
Glycaspis brimblecombei
Na
e m
Other Common NameRed Gum Psylloid

Imaged 7 in Feb(1), Apr(2), May(2), Jun(1) & Oct(1)
A couple of Lerps (houses)
Psylloid Instar that was under the lerp
Are they flat or what!
Smooth Inside of a removed lerp
Older psylloid instars

Copyright © 1996-2024 Brett & Marie Smith. All Rights Reserved.
End of Page