Melobasis splendida

5 a Jewel beetle at QPRC LGA

Request use of media

Identification history

Melobasis splendida	19 Jan 2024	MarkH
Melobasis sp. (genus)	19 Jan 2024	entom2
Unidentified	19 Jan 2024	Csteele4

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

Landed on my thumb as I was photographing another beetle! Black cross-like markings on back.

7 comments

MatthewFrawley wrote:

19 Jan 2024

Nice find, or perhaps more accurately, nice of the beetle to find you. Only the second sighting on CNM of this jewel beetle.

Csteele4 wrote:

19 Jan 2024

@MatthewFrawley I certainly feel very honoured! It was a very pretty little beetle.

MatthewFrawley wrote:

19 Jan 2024

You are in rare company, the only other sighting is from the local jewel beetle master.

MarkH wrote:

19 Jan 2024

It’s a common and widely distributed species on the east coast and adjacent hinterlands. But, it is very cryptic and difficult to find and is generally just on leaves of things like eucalypts and acacias, most of which are well above the site line of the average person.

Csteele4 wrote:

19 Jan 2024

@MarkH this one must have been on its way somewhere. I was watching a beetle in a Bursaria when it landed on me. My first instinct was to flick it off - glad I didn't!

Harrisi wrote:

19 Jan 2024

Nice story and sighting! Mother nature always comes up with something special 😊

Csteele4 wrote:

19 Jan 2024

@Harrisi 😁

Please Login or Register to comment.