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Peltoschema festiva This diminutive beetle eluded notice until I realized its host plant is a native pea, one of several Davesia species. It was a surprise to find the green male of Peltoschema lepida on her back, showing considerable interest. This observation strongly suggests that P. festiva is polymorphic and a synonym of P. lepida but I would like a bit more experience before I adopt a particular view. <br /> Australia,Geotagged,Peltoschema,Peltoschema festiva,Spring Click/tap to enlarge PromotedSpecies introCountry intro

Peltoschema festiva

This diminutive beetle eluded notice until I realized its host plant is a native pea, one of several Davesia species. It was a surprise to find the green male of Peltoschema lepida on her back, showing considerable interest. This observation strongly suggests that P. festiva is polymorphic and a synonym of P. lepida but I would like a bit more experience before I adopt a particular view.

    comments (3)

  1. View Pudding4brains's profile
    Pudding4brains
    Lion
    View Lion class
    Only noticed your text with this image today... just another thought : This sort of "confused" behaviour is quite common among European Chrysomelidae, but then again Aussies are not Europeans of course ;o)
    Confused Altica and Chrysomela Confused male of some Altica sp. trying to hump a Chrysomela populi :o) Altica,Alticinae,Chrysomela populi,Chrysomelidae,Chrysomelinae,Coleoptera,France,Geotagged,copulation,nl: Grote populierenhaan

    Confused Gastrophysas Confused Gastrophysa polygoni male trying to hump a female Gastrophysa viridula :o) Chrysomelidae,Chrysomelinae,Coleoptera,Gastrophysa,Gastrophysa polygoni,Gastrophysa viridula,Gravid female,Netherlands,copulation,nl: Duizendknoophaantje,nl: Groen zuringhaantje

    Confused Gastrophysa males Confused Gastrophysa polygoni male trying to hump a male(!) Gastrophysa viridula :o) Chrysomelidae,Chrysomelinae,Coleoptera,Gastrophysa,Gastrophysa polygoni,Gastrophysa viridula,Green Dock-Beetle (G. viridula),Netherlands,nl: Duizendknoophaantje,nl: Groen zuringhaantje
     Posted 7 years ago
    1. View Martin Lagerwey's profile
      Martin Lagerwey
      Lion
      View Lion class
      What a great collection of immoral behaviour. I am aware of this possibility and that is my suspicion. Lepida is scarce in this habitat and many female festiva are available. Our key beetle entomologist already consider the two species as one and this photograph lends support to a already existing hypothesis. A simple dissection will be conclusive and I will do that shortly, since I have males of both species. Posted 7 years ago
      1. View Pudding4brains's profile
        Pudding4brains
        Lion
        View Lion class
        Very interesting - please do share the results ! :o) Posted 7 years ago

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The Peltoschema festiva

Peltoschema festiva (Chapuis, 1877) is a leaf beetle in the genus Peltoschema . It is very small at 3mm and a mimic of the cardinal ladybird beetle. It feeds on several species of native pea (Davesia).

Info 2 0
Similar species: Beetles
Species identified by Martin Lagerwey
View Martin Lagerwey's profile

By Martin Lagerwey

All rights reserved
Uploaded Nov 17, 2017. Captured Nov 15, 2017 18:56 in Mt Livingstone Rd, Omeo VIC 3898, Australia.
country flag of Australia Explore Australia 13,072 4,173 3
  • Canon EOS 600D
  • f/16.0
  • 1/166s
  • ISO200
  • 65mm