Species Melobasis gratiosissima Thomson, 1879

Museums

Regional Maps

• Melobasis gratiosissima Thomson, J. 1879. Typi Buprestidarum Musaei Thomsoniani, Appendix 1a. Paris : E. Deyrolle 87 pp. [18].

  Type data:

   Holotype MNHP sex unknown, Australia.
• Melobasis speciosa Blackburn, T. 1887. Further notes on Australian Coleoptera, with descriptions of new genera and species. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 10: 177-287 [245].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH sex unknown, none given.
• Melobasis amabilis Kerremans, C. 1898. Buprestides nouveaux de l'Australie et des régiones voisines. Annales de la Société Entomologique de Belgique (Comptes-rendus) 42: 113-182 [128].

  Type data:

   Holotype BMNH sex unknown, Moreton-Bay, QLD.
• Melobasis gratiosissima aurora Obenberger, J. 1942. De generis Melobasis Cast. et Gory speciebus novis (Col. Bupr.). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 20: 99-106 [103] [variety of gratiosissima Thomson, 1879].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMPC 22004 sex unknown, Gawler (as Gowlerstown), SA.
• Melobasis gratiosissima amorosa Obenberger, J. 1942. De generis Melobasis Cast. et Gory speciebus novis (Col. Bupr.). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 20: 99-106 [104] [variety of gratiosissima Thomson, 1879].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMPC 22005 sex unknown, Gawler (as Gowlerstown), SA.
• Melobasis gratiosissima amabilior Obenberger, J. 1942. De generis Melobasis Cast. et Gory speciebus novis (Col. Bupr.). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 20: 99-106 [104] [variety of gratiosissima Thomson, 1879].

  Type data:

   Holotype NMPC 22006 sex unknown, Gawler (as Gowlerstown), SA.

 

Taxonomic Decision for Synonymy

• Carter, H.J. 1909. Notes on Australian Coleoptera: with descriptions of new species of Tenebrionidae. Proceedings of the Linnean Society of New South Wales 34: 120-156 [120]
• Carter, H.J. 1923. A revision of the Australian species of the genus Melobasis (Fam. Buprestidae, Order Coleoptera), with notes on allied genera. Transactions of the Royal Entomological Society of London 1923(1–2): 64–105, pls I,II [82]
• Bellamy, C.L. & Peterson, M. 2000. Contributions to the taxonomy of Australian Buprestidae (Coleoptera) Part I. New synonymy, combinations, and names. Folia Heyrovskyana 8(2): 72–100 [31 Oct. 2000] [93] (synonymy of three Obenberger varieties)

 

Distribution

States

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Victoria, Western Australia

IBRA and IMCRA regions

drainage basins and coastal and oceanic zones

IBRA

NSW, Qld, SA, Vic, WA: Australian Alps (AA), Brigalow Belt South (BBS), Broken Hill Complex (BHC), Carnarvon (CAR), Coolgardie (COO), Cobar Peneplain (CP), Central Ranges (CR), Dampierland (DL), Darling Riverine Plains (DRP), Eyre Yorke Block (EYB), Flinders Lofty Block (FLB), Gascoyne (GAS), Gawler (GAW), Gibson Desert (GD), Geraldton Sandplains (GS), Great Sandy Desert (GSD), Great Victoria Desert (GVD), Hampton (HAM), Kanmantoo (KAN), Little Sandy Desert (LSD), Murray Darling Depression (MDD), Mulga Lands (ML), Murchison (MUR), Nandewar (NAN), New England Tablelands (NET), NSW South Western Slopes (NSS), Nullarbor (NUL), Pilbara (PIL), Riverina (RIV), South Eastern Highlands (SEH), Tanami (TAN), Victorian Midlands (VM), Yalgoo (YAL)

Original AFD Distribution Data

Australian Region

• Australia
  • New South Wales: Murray-Darling basin
  • Queensland: Murray-Darling basin
  • South Australia: Murray-Darling basin, W plateau
  • Victoria: Murray-Darling basin
  • Western Australia: NW coastal, W plateau

Ecological Descriptors

Adult: diurnal, herbivore, volant.

Larva: wood-borer.

 

General References

Burns, G.G. & Burns, A.J. 1992. The distribution of Victorian jewel beetles (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) - an ENTRECS project. Occasional Papers of the Museum of Victoria 5: 1-53 [8] (Map 38)

Carter, H.J. 1921. Results of Dr. E. Mjöberg's Swedish scientific expeditions to Australia 1910–1913. 25. Buprestidae. Arkiv för Zoologi 13(22): 1-6 [2]

Carter, H.J. 1929. A check list of the Australian Buprestidae. With tables and keys to sub-families, tribes, and genera (by A. Théry). The Australian Zoologist 5(4): 265-304 [Date published 24 Mar 1929] [285]

Lea, A.M. 1912. The late Rev. Canon Thomas Blackburn, B.A., and his entomological work. Transactions of the Royal Society of South Australia 36: v-xl [xxix] (speciosa)

Obenberger, J. 1930. Buprestidae 2. pp. 213-568 in Junk, W. & Schenkling, S. (eds). Coleopterorum Catalogus. Berlin : W. Junk Vol. 111. [431] (presenting alternative taxonomic arrangement speciosa, amabilis as varieties)

Obenberger, J. 1930. Buprestidae 2. pp. 213-568 in Junk, W. & Schenkling, S. (eds). Coleopterorum Catalogus. Berlin : W. Junk Vol. 111. [431]

Obenberger, J. 1942. De generis Melobasis Cast. et Gory speciebus novis (Col. Bupr.). Acta Entomologica Musei Nationalis Pragae 20: 99-106 [104] (key to varieties)

 

History of changes

Published	As part of group	Action Date	Action Type	Compiler(s)
10-Oct-2012		10-Oct-2012	MOVED
		12-Feb-2010	(import)