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''Eupoecila intricata'', is a rare species of the Australian- endemic scarab beetle genus Eupoecila. E.intricata was described by Lea (1914) as a
Comparison of Eupoecila intricata (left) with Eupoecila australasiae (right).
E. intricata feed on the pollen and nectar of flowering trees, such as eucalypts,
subspecies
In biological classification, subspecies is a rank below species, used for populations that live in different areas and vary in size, shape, or other physical characteristics (morphology), but that can successfully interbreed. Not all species ...
of E. australasiae and is still often confused with the species. It was raised to species status by Allard (1995).
Description and diet
The body of this species carries cryptic, bright yellow or yellow-orange markings on a red and black background. In death, these markings fade to brown. The markings are similar to those of Eupoecila australasiae. Easily recognisable differences are two additional vertical lines where the wing covers meet, and two comma-shaped marks at the bottom of the pronotum rather than a horizontal line. E. intricata are slightly larger than E. australasiae.
Comparison of Eupoecila intricata (left) with Eupoecila australasiae (right).
E. intricata feed on the pollen and nectar of flowering trees, such as eucalypts, Angophora
''Angophora'' is a genus of nine species of trees and shrubs in the myrtle family, Myrtaceae. Endemic to eastern Australia, they differ from other eucalypts in having juvenile and adult leaves arranged in opposite pairs, sepals reduced to projec ...
and Ligustrum and contribute to the pollination of these trees and bushes.
Habitat and occurrence
E. intricata is a rare species as evident from collection data and material in collections. Many of the records available on the internet are unverified. The species co-occurs with E. australasiae in Australia'sGreat Dividing Range
The Great Dividing Range, also known as the East Australian Cordillera or the Eastern Highlands, is a cordillera system in eastern Australia consisting of an expansive collection of mountain ranges, plateaus and rolling hills, that runs rough ...
and adjoing areas in east Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria. The life history of this species has not been published but is often assumed to be identical to E. australasiae.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q14885143 Cetoniinae Beetles of Australia Beetles described in 1914 Taxa named by Arthur Mills Lea