Glaucias

Glossary
References
Using this Key

Glaucias Kirkaldy, 1908

Photo © Emma Betts, Australian Museum

Type species:

Rhaphigaster amyoti Dallas, 1851 by subsequent designation.

Number of Australian species:

Two.

Extralimital Distribution:

Afrotropical Region; Australian Region - East Timor, Fiji, French Polynesia (Marquesas Islands), Indonesia (Sulawesi, West Timor), New Caledonia, New Zealand, Palau, Papua New Guinea (Bismarck Archepelago), Vanuatu, Western Samoa; Oriental Region - China (People's Republic), India, Indonesia (Java, Kalimantan, Sumatra), Malaysia, Philippines, Sri Lanka; Palaearctic Region - China (People's Republic).

Australian Distribution:

Tropical regions New South Wales, Queensland and Northern Territory.

Biology:

Much of the life history of Glaucias amyota appears to occur on Coprosma robusta. Myers (1926) detailed the biology and life history of Glaucias amyota.

Host(s):

Glaucias amyoti (Dallas, 1851) associated with Coprosma robusta [RUBIACEAE], Passiflora mollissima [PASSIFLORACEAE] Banana Passionfuit, Passiflora edulis [PASSIFLORACEAE] Passionfruit, Caliroa cerasi [HYMENOPTERA: TENTHREDINIDAE] Cherry Slug.

Diagnosis:

Colour

Dorsally and ventrally green. Legs and antennae green and concolourous.

Texture

Moderately to densely punctate.

Vestiture

Glabrous.

Structure

Body - Elongate-ovoid, dorsally convex. Length 12.3 mm -14.1 mm; width 7.2 mm -10.3 mm.

Head - Subtriangular to subhemispherical, moderately dorsoventrally orientated, shorter than pronotum; jugae equal in length to clypeus, pointed apically, laterally carinate; antennfier processes absent; five antennal segments, first antennal segment shorter than distance between eyes, inserted below mid-height but above ventral margin of eyes; bucculae elongate (posteriorly beyond antennifers); vertex cross-sectional shape flattened; labium extending to between middle coxae and second abdominal sternum, first labial segment equal in length to bucculae; eyes not stylate, directed laterally.

Pronotum - Calli present but somewhat faint; pronotal collar present; anterior lobe surface flat; humeral angles subangulate; lateral margins carinate; anterolateral margins simple and straight; posterolateral margins sinuate; posterior margin straight.

Scutellum - Triangular, apex broadly rounded; lateral calli and medial callus absent.

Thoracic sterna - Prosternum flat; mesosternum with low raised keel; metasternum flat.

External efferent system - Evaporative scent gland covering most of segment; peritreme elongate.

Hemelytra - Macropterous, longer than abdomen; membrane veins linear and mostly subparallel.

Legs - Fore tibia sulcate.

Abdomen - Connexiva visible dorsally; laterotergites armed with black posteriorly directed spines; abdominal sterna II with a small rounded lump.