Queen Beetle, Anoplognathus viriditarsis, dorsal Click to enlarge image
Queen Beetle, Anoplognathus viriditarsis, dorsal Image: Mike Burleigh
© 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.