Diphucrania sp. (genus)

Hi Clare, Michael, et al, the thing is with the more non-distinctive (i.e. not instantly recognisable) small to very small species in genera such as Diphucrania, Anilara, Neocuris, Paracephala, Dinocephala, Meliboeithon, etc, etc is that a series of specimens of each species (or collected regardless if unsure as to being 'species a' or 'species b') must be collected and properly curated. 'Properly curated' means: correctly dried, correctly pinned (yes there is a correct way to pin and dry) with stainless steel entomology pins of the right size (diameter) for the specimen, or micropinned if very small, and labelled with their full collection data using appropriate-size laser-printed (not dot matrix) labels that the pin is put through under the specimen so the data stays with the specimen). Ideally, the aedeagus of male specimens (and the proctigers (cover plates above and below the sexual organs) of males and females of some species) should be carefully extruded, not removed, to help with ID's. The collection data includes country, State, exact location (include nearest road name), lat and long co-ords, the accuracy of such (given in metres as the diameter of the accuracy circle), date, host plant full taxonomic name (else just genus if known), whether on flowers or foliage, etc, and collector(s) name(s). I usually print such collection data at font size 3.5. I also print on a separate label that is also attached, below the collection data, a separate label that has the ID, or my best guess at the ID (has a '?' mark) of the taxon /taxonomic name, the author of the species name (i.e. if the genus and species is known) and year of publication, who ID'd the specimen, the year it was ID'd, and in my case, a unique number for the specimen (e.g. AMS 3682). This second label is printed using font size 4. The specimen(s) are then sorted into pest-proof entomological drawers or entomological store boxes, usually with a fumigant in a container inside, such as napthalene. But this (trust me, very time-consuming!!) curation process is just the start of a long, often years or decades-long process of having it identified, and if new, hopefully, expertly described by a skilled and knowledgeable person, or persons.. The type specimen (the 'holotype') that is of course unique, is designated in the published description and represents that species forever. By law, all holotypes must be deposited into an authorised Australian repository, such as the Australian Museum in Sydney or the Australian National Insect Collection (part of the C.S.I.R.O.) in Canberra. Additional specimens seen by the describing author are called paratypes, but those have no more taxonomic value than a non-holotype species, but are useful nevertheless to provide a better 'picture' of the parameters of what a species looks like compared to its congeners. A paratype or other specimens of the species can be designated as a neotype or lectotype (depending on circumstances) if the holotype is lost or destroyed, but there is no 100% certainty in every case (though there is certainly in some cases) that a neotype or lectotype is the same species as the lost holotype. Paratypes are permitted to be held in private collections but ideally should also be deposited into an Australian authorised repository. Yes, in many cases species that are distinctive and well-known (at least amongst those of us such as myself and others who have been chasing Buprestidae for some 45 or more years), we can confidently ID a specimen to species from a photo. But with the genera that I mentioned above, not so easy for many of the species in such genera, thus decent series of specimens need to be collected and properly curated, for myself to at least photograph, preferably alive if possible. Though not relevant to the aforementioned genera, species that have 'testaceous' (pigmented, as opposed to metallic) colours, and change colour after death such as those in Astraeus, Castiarina, Temognatha, Metaxymorpha, and Calodema, are important to be photographed alive as their colours can change / eventually darken after death even if dried as best as possible. To continue, properly curated specimens are needed for others who are more expert / have the skills, time, energy & funds than myself to undertake modern revisions (as in most of such genera a modern revision is sorely needed), which often includes DNA analysis, and really, really costly visits to various museums throughout Australia, Europe (including the UK) to look at and compare fresh-caught-curated specimens with the all-important 'type' specimens of already-described species. There's much more I can say but I think that will do for now, I hope everyone understands the importance of the need to collect specimens, coz the more species we know about and can identify and give names to the better weapons we have to stop the endless ongoing destruction of what's left of Australia's precious bushland by land clearing and fires (including those started by pastoralists), and especially including the unnecessary and devastating planned burns that some State governments are engaged in right this very minute. Its bad enough that there is an army of arsonists out there who almost never get caught and who love nothing more than to light wildfires on hot windy days and watch the bush go up in flames. All the best, Allen M. Sundholm OAM

@entom2 appreciate your comments and learned a few things. This may be a bit beyond my scope as an amateur insect hobbyist / citizen scientist. I also suspect my partner might call the wedding off if I begin to collect every specimen I cannot i.d. ( thatd be a LOT if not most insects). It is tempting though...