Castiarina xystra

20 Jewel Beetle at Deakin, ACT

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Identification history

Castiarina xystra	18 Sep 2024	entom2
Castiarina xystra	18 Sep 2024	MarkH
Castiarina xystra	18 Sep 2024	MarkH
Castiarina supergrata	17 Sep 2024	KorinneM

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Significant sighting

MarkH noted:

18 Sep 2024

Only specimen known since the collection of the unique type specimen at Black Mountain in March 1931

17 comments

HelenCross wrote:

17 Sep 2024

Wow!

MarkH wrote:

17 Sep 2024

This is Castiarina militaris.
Can the admin people please add this to the species list for the ACT. It is a new species for the ACT. Thanks.

entom2 wrote:

17 Sep 2024

I agree with Mark H, this is Castiarina militaris. Cheers, Allen. EDIT: its Castiarina xystra!

MichaelBedingfield wrote:

18 Sep 2024

Hi Mark. As a moderator for jewel beetles, you have have the ability to do this yourself. Go to the field guide for jewel beetles and click on Add species. Best wishes.

MarkH wrote:

18 Sep 2024

Thanks Michael. I think that worked.

MichaelBedingfield wrote:

18 Sep 2024

Yep, looks good Mark

MarkH wrote:

18 Sep 2024

After further discussion with entom2 and looking at a photograph of the unique type of Castiarina xystra which was described from a single specimen from Black Mountain in March 1931 I am comfortable that this sighting represents that species.
This species is very closely allied with Castiarina militaris and they may prove to be conspecific however this assessment can only occur with a collected specimen so, if possible, the specimen needs to be lodged at the Australian National Insect Collection if it is available.

KorinneM wrote:

18 Sep 2024

This specimen looked close to death when I saw it - it allowed me to pick it up on the leaf. I've checked this morning, and there's no sign of anything there. None of the eucalypts close to it look like they are currently in flower. I will have some more checks over the next few days around the area, but only likely to find something if it's on the ground. I also don't have my camera to try and see whether there's anything higher up in the trees, unfortunately.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

18 Sep 2024

Fantastic find Korinne - I will also put a call out for members of Red Hill Regenerators to look out for this Jewel Beetle.

RAllen wrote:

18 Sep 2024

Very exciting Korinne.
Interesting that this species of Castiarina is also out in early in spring. My recollection was that it was surprising when C. insularis turned up in early spring 2021 in southern Namadgi. Castiarina insularis (A jewel beetle)

entom2 wrote:

18 Sep 2024

I identified this as being Castiarina xystra by comparison with my photo of the type of xystra held in the ANIC (see my responses to Korinne's excellent post on Facebook). I am very keen on photographing both sexes of this species alive, and if possible I would like a pair for my representative collection which is destined to go to the nation, including the ANIC (in the 1990's I donated some 30,000 specimens to the Australian Museum, to the Macleay Museum, and to the ANIC). In addition, given the similarity to Castiarina militaris, I recommend that, as ANIC does not have any militaris (last time I looked), and already has the only curated specimen of xystra, Dr Peter Lang of Adelaide (formerly of the herbarium in Adelaide) be involved as he can undertake a DNA analysis, as he has done for many other species in the genus. Hopefully he can eventually obtain specimens identified as militaris as well, to compare its DNA with that of xystra. Both species are in a large genus of nectar-feeders so keep a lookout on the flowers of any flowering Eucalyptus, especially Eucalyptus melloidera ('Yellow Box), out of the branch of which the holotype specimen was collected on Black Mountain in 1931, so adults (likely ovipositing females) might also be found on the trunks and branches. Hopefully enough specimens can eventually be found to keep everyone happy! Cheers! Allen M. Sundholm OAM

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

18 Sep 2024

Went and had a look this afternoon. None of the nearby local and planted eucalyptus (E. melliodora, E.blakleyi and E. bicostata subsp. globulus) are in flower. There are a line of White Box (E. albens) planted along Kent street. They have a mass of spent buds. There were a few degraded and old flowers on the tree under which Korinne found the Beetle, but they were the only "flowers" I could see along the whole row of white box. Will target a look in this area again next year when white box is in full bloom, but flowers are only observable with binoculars.

entom2 wrote:

18 Sep 2024

Hi Michael, the main thing is that you very kindly took the time and trouble to look, and to post a full write-up of the situation here! You may need a longish net for next year, ha! Anyway, I reckon there might still be some around if others are keen to look.

KorinneM wrote:

19 Sep 2024

I had a look yesterday along Denison street in Deakin, as their are some gums with flowers still. Almost all flowers are well out of reach. Had a look on the ground/trunks as much as possible. No sign of anything.

entom2 wrote:

19 Sep 2024

Hi Korrine, the main thing is that you also very kindly took the time and trouble to look :-). Indeed, there being Eucs with flowers, there may be some on those flowers out of reach. If I get a chance (not sure yet) I will try to come to Canberra next week, I have long nets. Cheers!

KorinneM wrote:

19 Sep 2024

@entom2 if you do come to Canberra next week, I'd appreciate it if you let me know, please.

entom2 wrote:

19 Sep 2024

Hi Korinne, I certainly intended to :-) I shoulda mentioned that sorry, but at this stage I am not sure if I can make it :-(

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