Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Anoplognathus
    Species
    macalpinei
    Subfamily
    Rutelinae
    Family
    Scarabaeidae
    Order
    Coleoptera
    Class
    Insecta
    Subphylum
    Uniramia
    Phylum
    Arthopoda
    Kingdom
    Animalia
  • Size Range
    Length: 15 – 17mm

Introduction

The specific name macalpinei refers to David MacAlpine, an Australian entomologist.


What does Anoplognathus macalpinei look like?

Identification

Various colour forms. Iridescent metallic green, or red-bronze, often with green still present; clypeus light orange brown with green reflections. Underside; thorax metallic green or red; thorax with dense, short, flat white hair; abdomen darker red brown; abdomen with mpatch of small, dense, white hair at extreme lateral margins of each segment. Legs yellow to red-brown; tarsi red-brown to dark.


  • Clypeus

    Clypeus: Round; slightly recurved along front margin.

  • Foretibia

    Foretibia: Two distinct tibial teeth.

  • Metaventral process

    Metaventral process: Long, flat, reaching to hind margin of forecoxae.

  • Pygidium

    Pygidium: Yellow to red brown or metallic red and green; smooth; with few, short, flat, white hairs around margin and a short, yellow anal tuft.



Where is Anoplognathus macalpinei found?

Distribution

Far North QLD.



What species are similar to Anoplognathus macalpinei?

Similar species

Anoplognathus smaragdinus

Anoplognathus macalpinei is similar to A. smaragdinus. They both have different colour forms, however the pygidium of A. macalpinei is always a yellow to red-brown, not consistent in colour with the rest of its body. Males also have a smoothly rounded clypeus, not contracted.

The species has different colour forms which need to be considered for proper identification. This species in only known from north of Coen, in far North QLD.