#melobasis

[mavisthemae]

Merry Christmas from me and from Melobasis purpurascens

[mavisthemae]

Some lovely little jewel beetles emerged indoors and gathered on a windowsill, not their usual habitat so presumably they'd been pupating in some foraged sticks or some such. Fingers crossed that after release they've found suitable host plants in my garden or nearby.

Melobasis sp. probably M. purpurascens or M. splendida (I'm told Melobasis is a complex and under review).

[drhoz]

#2022 - Melobasis pyritosa - Fool's Gold Jewel Beetle

Photo by Patrick Wake, who spotted the eltyra in a spiderweb, where they had probably been for months, since June very much is not Jewel Beetle season.

Melobasis pyritosa is probably the same species as Melobasis sexplagiata - the genus needs work. The larvae feed inside Flooded Gum (Eucalyptus rudis) which is abundant around the Serpentine-Murray delta.