Furry Tailed Prince, Anoplognathus flavipennis
A. daemeli, A. suturalis
Click to enlarge image
© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Anoplognathus
- Species
- flavipennis
- Subfamily
- Rutelinae
- Family
- Scarabaeidae
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- Length: 16 – 20mm
Introduction
The common name “Furry tailed Prince” was provided be Bec Moss.
What does Anoplognathus flavipennis look like?
Identification
Red brown head, pronotum and scutellum, with strong golden green to purple reflections; light brown elytra, with no strong reflections; head and clypeus with fine, white hair. Underside green to red brown, with red or green reflections; thorax with long, white hair, sparser on midline; abdomen with short, flat, white hair. Legs brown, with weak green reflections; mid and hind legs with long, erect, white hair; tarsi black with green reflections.
Clypeus
Clypeus: Contracted eyond middle; narrowing apically; recurved; front margin flared; with short; erect, white hair, also present on front of head.
Foretibia
Foretibia: Three tibial teeth; two distinct, one weak.
Metaventral process
Metaventral process: Short; broadly rounded; flat; apex not reaching hind margin of forecoxae.
Pygidium
Pygidium: Brown with green reflections; with dense, short, flat, white hair.
Where is Anoplognathus flavipennis found?
Distribution
Eastern Australia; Cairns, QLD, to Wollongong, NSW.
What species are similar to Anoplognathus flavipennis?
Similar species
A. daemeli, A. suturalis
Anoplognathus flavipennis has setae on its head and clypeus. Its metaventral process is evenly rounded, not sharp. Females are extremely similar to A. daemeli females. But have a distinct flaring of the margins of their elytra over the hind legs.
It is also similar to A. blackdownensis, however this species has only been recorded in the Blackdown Tableland region, South QLD.
