G. it. Ent., 6 (31): 109-117
August 31, 1992
Diphucephala bernhardti sp. nov.
(Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae)
from heathlands of north-eastern New South Wales, Australia
and its association with Hibbertia flowers (Dilleniaceae)
by
TREVOR J. HAWKESWOOD
Abstract - A new species of Diphucephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae), D. bernhardti sp. nov., is described from heathlands of the Hastings Point area, north-western New South Wales, Australia. The beetle feeds and mates on the large, yellow petals of Hibbertia scandens (Willd.) Gilg. (Dilleniaceae) and has not been recorded from any other plants in the area. Observations indicate that D. bernhardti is not a pollinator of H. scandens. The gross morphology and ethology of D. bernhardti are compared with those of the closely allied species, D. quadratigera Blanchard, which inhabits flowers of Hibbertia saligna R. Br. in montane New South Wales. Currently, D. bernhardti and D. quadratigera are the only Diphucephala spp. known to be associated with Hibbertia flowers in south-eastern Australia.
