Chalcopterus Beetle (True Darkling Beetle) (Chalcopteroides sp.)

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Photo by Neil Ross

Published on Project Noah

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-27.63, 152.357

Field Notes

Description:

I spotted this colourful little beetle, known as a "true darkling beetle", from the family Tenebrionidae, and tribe Amarygmini. Beetles in this family are medium in size (this specimen about 15-18 mm), all black with an iridescent sheen. Their antennas are medium length, body is stout, and their legs are relatively long. One distinct feature of the genus is the head which is held vertically against the body.

Habitat:

Commonly found on and under the bark of Eucalyptus trees, and also under rocks and in leaf litter. Adults feed on a variety of decaying materials of plants, lichens or fungi. This spotting was in a rural area.

Notes:

The tree this beetle was found on was not an Australian native, and certainly not a Eucalypt.

Reference Links:

Darkling beetle, Subfamily Tenebrioninae - Tribe Amarygmini - True Darkling Beetles

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)

Neil Ross

Thanks, Bill. They're quite an attractive little beetle. I've not seen one since, but I'm sure they're around.

Bill mark

Found this Genus here in Exmouth Western Australia approximately 19 FEB 2015.Was on our patio wall attracted to the light I think. Great photo perfectly shows off the metallic sheen,well done Neil.

Bernadette S

Wow - love those colors!

mcaul6515

Awesome!

Mark Ridgway

Nice. I've found a few different colours on these but not all together.

Debbie Stewart

Great capture of its irridescence Naross!