Melobasis duplexicolor, Levey, 2012

Levey, Brian, 2012, 3464, Zootaxa 3464, pp. 1-107 : 15-16

M. duplexicolor sp. n.

( Figs. 85, 86, 94, 159)

Type locality: W. Australia, Quinns Rocks .

Type specimens. Holotype ♂ ( SAMA) Quinns Rocks W.A., 24.ix.55., Acacia [S. Barker Collection] / HOLOTYPE Melobasis duplexicolor sp. n. B. Levey 2010. Paratypes as follows. Western Australia : 1♀ ( SAMA) same data as Holotype; 1 unsexed Coronation Beach, 20km N. Geraldton 7–8.xi.81, H. & A. Howden ; 5♂, 2♀ ( BMNH, NMWC) Dongarra, 6–19.ix.1935 & 23.viii–5.ix.1935, R.E.Turner ; 2♂, 1♀ ( ANIC, MVA) Geraldton J. Clark ; 1♂ ( SAMA) Geraldton ; 2♀ ( SAMA, BPBM) Geraldton & Mullewa, Lea ; 1♂ ( ANIC) Mundaring, J. Clark ; 15♂, 11♀ ( NMWC, WAMA) Rottnest ; 1♂ ( SAMA) Rottnest Res. Stn., Acacia rostellifera Benth. , 3.ix.56, S. Barker ; 1♂ ( SAMA) Rottnest, 1/ 4 mile E.N.E. Radar Hut, Myoporum insulare , 3.ix.56, S. Barker . 2 ♀ ( SAMA) W. Australia .

Diagnosis. Length 6.9–9.1 mm. Male and female colour dimorphic; upperside of male golden-green, the lateral margins and apices of the elytra more or less copper or purple ( Fig. 85); upperside of female yellow-bronze to brown-bronze, more or less suffused with copper or purple ( Fig. 86); serrations of lateral margins of elytra well defined and acute ( Fig. 94); aedeagus weakly widening from the basal piece to the widest point; apex of median lobe produced with the tip pointed ( Fig. 159).

Comments. No other consistent differences were noted between M. duplexicolor and M. thoracica apart from those mentioned above. In the field bronze M. thoracica from S.W. Australia are likely to be misidentified as female M. duplexicolor .

Bionomics. Adults collected between August and November. Adults have been collected from Acacia rostellifera Benth. (Fabaceae) , Chamelaucium uncinatum Schauer (Myrtaceae) (Geraldton Wax), Myoporum insulare R. Br. (Myoporaceae) . Larval hosts unknown.