Austrochalcophora subfasciata ( Carter, 1916 ) Bellamy, 2006

Bellamy, C. L., 2006, Studies on the Australian Chalcophorini: a new genus for Chalcophora subfasciata Carter, 1916 and a review of the Pseudotaenia Kerremans, 1903 generic-group (Coleoptera: Buprestidae), Zootaxa 1206 (1), pp. 23-46 : 27-28

Austrochalcophora subfasciata ( Carter, 1916) , comb. nov.

(Figures 12, 17)

Chalcophora subfasciata Carter 1916: 139 ; Lander 2003: 70.

Chrysodema subfasciata: Carter 1926: 57 ; Obenberger 1926: 134; Théry 1927: 253; Carter 1929: 300; Bellamy 2002: 52.

Type locality. “North­western Australia, Roebourne.” Specimens examined. Lectotype ♂ (new designation): ( MVMA T­12007 ): North­ western Australia, Roebourne [ PIL, S20°46' E117° 08']; paralectotype ♀ ( MVMA T­ 12008 ): Cape York Qld.; 1 ( CLBC): QLD. Garradunga [ WT, S17° 27' E145° 59'], Innisfail, 2.i.1992, J. Hasenpusch.

Distribution. Australia, Northern Territory, Queensland, N. Western Australia.

Biology/Bionomy. According to Jack Hasenpusch (in litt.) “this species breeds in Acacia melanoxylon R. Br. ex Ait (“black wattle”). This is a rainforest beetle with females collected south of Cairns and in Kuranda ovipositing on the stressed or damaged mature trees. Black wattle is a pioneer species and matures at about 80 years, before declining from there when they become more attractive to this species and other buprestids. Austrochalcophora subfasciata are rarely encountered because they normally feed 60 to 80 feet up in the canopy, but are occasionally encountered as freshly emerged beetles on one­ and twoyear old trees which have grown up next to a fallen giant and these are the closest leaves to the freshly emerged beetles, so they feed on them. Normally they would emerge from the branches and fly to the nearest leafy branch in the canopy. They don`t have much powder on the elytra on emergence and it really comes out of the elytral cuticle when the beetles start to feed. The color of the powder is canary yellow, old specimens may discolour to orange yellow or darker.”

Remarks. This species is very distinct both within the Australian fauna and in comparison to species of Chalcophora and Chrysodema .