Diphucephala colaspidoides (Gyllenhal, 1817) (a species of scarab-beetle)

Basis for Tasmanian occurrence

Semmens, T.D., McQuillan, P.B. & Hayhurst, G. (1992). Catalogue of the Insects of Tasmania. Government of Tasmania: Department of Primary Industry, 104 pp.

TMAG collections

Classification

Order: Coleoptera

Suborder: Polyphaga

Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea

Family: Scarabaeidae

Subfamily: Melolonthini

Tribe: Diphucephalini

Morphology

Typical length (mm): 8
Flightedness: winged and assumed capable of flight

Ecology

Assumed larval feeding: root-feeder
Association with dead wood or old trees: not saproxylic

Ecological attributes: — Acacia dealbata is a host-plant (Bashford, 1990a) — Aotus ericoides is a host-plant (Bashford, 1990a) — Pseudotsuga menziesii is a host-plant (Bashford, 1990a) — Pultenaea juniperina is a host-plant (Bashford, 1990a) — Can inflict significant damage on Acacia spp. (Elliott & deLittle, 1985) — Can inflict significant damage on Eucalyptus spp. (Elliott & deLittle, 1985) — Can inflict significant damage on Nothofagus cunninghamii (Elliott & deLittle, 1985).

Collection method(s) for TMAG material: — Baited trapping (funnel trap) — Hand collection (substrate not specified) — Hand collection from Acacia dealbata — Hand collection from Cassinia sp. — Hand collection from Eucalyptus cordata — Hand collection from Eucalyptus regnans/viminalis — Hand collection from Eucalyptus regnans — Hand collection from Leptospermum scoparium — Hand collection from Rosa sp. — Rearing in insectary (host not documented).

Source ecological literature:
Bashford, R. (1990a). Tasmanian forest insects and their host plants: records from the Tasmanian Forestry Commission insect collection. Hobart: Tas. Forestry Commission, 32 pages.
Daley, E. (2007). Wings: an introduction to Tasmania’s winged insects. Hobart: 40 Degrees South Pty. Ltd., 236 pages.
Elliott, H.J. & deLittle, D.W. (1985). Insect pests of trees and timber in Tasmania. Hobart: Tas. Forestry Commission, 90 pages.