Queen Beetle, Anoplognathus viriditarsis
A. montanus, A. rhinastus
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© Australian Museum
Fast Facts
-
Classification
- Genus
- Anoplognathus
- Species
- viriditarsis
- Subfamily
- Rutelinae
- Family
- Scarabaeidae
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Class
- Insecta
- Subphylum
- Uniramia
- Phylum
- Arthopoda
- Kingdom
- Animalia
-
- Size Range
- Length: 24 – 30mm
Introduction
The species name viriditarsis means “green foot”, reffering to the reflections on its tarsi.
What does Anoplognathus viriditarsis look like?
Identification
Yellow to light red brown, with golden green to rose reflections; head, pronotum and scutellum often slightly darker than elytra. Underside dark green; thorax with dense, long, white hair, except on midline; abdomen with very few, scattered, short, white hair. Legs yellow to red brown; tarsi black, sometimes with weak green reflections.
Clypeus
Clypeus: Long; evenly contracted in middle; recurved; strongly flaring at front margin.
Foretibia
Foretibia: Broad; three distinct tibial teeth.
Metaventral process
Metaventral process: Flat; apex reaching forecoxae.
Pygidium
Pygidium: Red brown, with green margins; smooth surface texture; with very few fine, short, erect, yellow hairs and with a wide, dense, long, yellow, annual tuft.
Where is Anoplognathus viriditarsis found?
Distribution
South East Australia, from Bundaberg, QLD to Melbourne, VIC.
What species are similar to Anoplognathus viriditarsis?
Similar species
A. montanus, A. rhinastus
Anoplognathus viriditarsis has a wide, flared clypeus, it is not acutely narrowed. Its abdominal sternites are without continuous, horizontal bands of setae across their basal margins.
It is also similar to A. macleayi and A. narmarus, however these species are only known from central Australia, and rarely have any colourful reflections.
