Anoplognathus rhinastus Click to enlarge image
Anoplognathus rhinastus Image: Kindi Smith
© Australian Museum

Fast Facts

  • Classification
    Genus
    Anoplognathus
    Species
    rhinastu
    Subfamily
    Rutelinae
    Family
    Scarabaeidae
    Order
    Coleoptera
    Class
    Insecta
    Subphylum
    Uniramia
    Phylum
    Arthopoda
    Kingdom
    Animalia

Introduction

The species name Anoplognathus means “nose”, referring to the distinctive shape of its clypeus.


What does Anoplognathus rhinastus look like?

Identification

Yellow to light red brown, with strong yellow green to blue reflections; head, pronotum and scutellum often darker than elytra. Underside dark green to black; thorax with dense, long, white hair, except on midline; abdomen with very few, scattered, short, white hair. Legs yellow to red brown; tarsi black.


  • Clypeus

    Clypeus: Strongly contracted at middle; slightly flaring at apex; recurved at front margin.

  • Foretibia

    Foretibia: Three tibial teeth, two distinct, one weak.

  • Metaventral process

    Metaventral process: Flat; apex reaching forecoxae

  • Pygidium

    Pygidium: Red brown, with green margin; smooth surface texture; with a short, yellow, anal tuft.



Where is Anoplognathus rhinastus found?

Distribution

East Australia, from Brisband, QLD to Sydney, NSW.



What species are similar to Anoplognathus rhinastus?

Similar species

A. montanus, A. viriditarsis.

Anoplognathus rhinastus has an acutely narrowed clypeus, not wide or rectangular. Its abdominal sternites are without continuous, horizontal bands of setae across their basal margins.