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Blackwood tortoise beetle

Dicranosterna sp.

Photo by MartinL
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

A honey beetle found on Acacia. Dicranosterna feed on Acacia and is the second of very few species found in victoria. (Paropsis feed usually on Eucalyptus).

Habitat:

Nature reserve.
This beetle was on blackwood (acacia melanoxylon) which usually has no visitors at all.

Notes:

The main diagnostic for Dicranosterna is sparse and non striate punctures on the elytra. There are 34 species in Australia.
Brisbane insects lists D. picea as a similar species.

http://www.nzffa.org.nz/farm-forestry-model/the-essentials/forest-healt…

Reference Links:

Acacia Leaf Beetle - Dicranosterna picea

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (6)
lori.tas
Their little faces just peaking out. So cute. Love the rich honey color on this one.
MartinL
Aha! Found it. The blackwood leaf beetle on the blackwood tree. Who would have thought? Dicranosterna semipunctata http://www.nzffa.org.nz/farm-forestry-model/the-essentials/forest-health-pests-and-diseases/Predators-parasitoids/Cleobora-mellyi
MartinL
Thanks Mark. Acacia seem to have some good protection from arthropod herbivores, We get D. immaculata on silver wattle and black wattle but I was not expecting this on blackwood wattle.
Mark Ridgway
That's a really nice one. Very tidy when tucked down. I still can't find anything on acacia.

Spotted for Missions

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Beetles of Southeastern Australia
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Beetles!

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Photographed
PublishedSeptember 15, 2014

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