Records of the Western Australian Museum 18: 203-208 (1996). 
Aspects of female reproductive biology of two southwestern Australian 
Temognatha species (Coleoptera: Buprestidae) 
Magnus Peterson 
Unit 35/12 Wellington Street, Mosman Park, Western Australia 6012, Australia 
Abstract - Oviposition behaviour is described for the first time in a 
Temognatha species, T. chalcodera (Thomson, 1878). Allocasuarina acutivalvis 
(F. Muell.) L. Johnson subsp. amtivalvis (Casuarinaceae) is the first recorded 
larval hostplant for T. chalcodera. Pre-oviposition behaviour is described for 
the first time in Temognatha bruckii (Thomson, 1878) and T. chalcodera. In-situ 
photos of T. chalcodera oviposition and T. bruckii pre-oviposition behaviour 
are provided. The published literature on pre-oviposition behaviour in 
Temognatlta is reviewed. The Temognatha variabilis species-group is defined 
and diagnosed. Possible reasons for evolution of the apomorphic 
oviposition/pre-oviposition behaviour in these species are discussed. 
INTRODUCTION 
Temognatha Solier, 1833 is a moderately large 
Australian stigmoderine genus of ca. 85 valid 
known taxa, the bionomics of which are poorly 
known. In this paper I present the first 
observations of Temognatha oviposition, in T. 
chalcodera (Thomson, 1878), and pre-oviposition 
behaviour in T. chalcodera and T. bruckii (Thomson, 
1878). All observations are based on recent 
fieldwork I have undertaken at a single site 18km 
east of Yellowdine, Western Australia (31°17'S, 
119°50'E). At this site the Temognatha chalcodera and 
T. bruckii observations were made 25 m apart. 
During the course of observations, I was able to 
take a number of in-situ photos of T. chalcodera 
oviposition and T. bruckii pre-oviposition 
behaviour, and the most informative photo of each 
is provided. I also review the little that has been 
published on "pre-oviposition" behaviour in the 
genus. 
Zoological specimen measurements linear, 
measured to nearest 0.05 mm using Zeiss 
stereomicroscope ocular micrometer (0-10 mm) or 
calipers (1-20 cm). Botanical specimen 
measurements linear, measured to nearest 0.05 mm 
using calipers or nearest 1 mm using tape measure. 
Buprestid morphology measurement definitions 
and their text abbreviations (capitalized in 
brackets) as follows: total length (TL) - from front 
of head (between antennae) to elytral apex; head 
width (HW) - to outer margins of eyes in frontal 
view; minimum interocular distance at vertex 
(MIDAV). 
OBSERVATIONS 
Temognatha (Temognatha) bruckii 
(Thomson, 1878) 
Figure 1 
Three female adults observed on 26 January 1990, 
at 1410-1515 hrs. All were "charcoal-scraping" 0.5- 
1.7 m above ground on two dead tree stumps 
(plant taxon unidentifiable) that were burnt on one 
side. 
First female (TL: 29.2 mm) observed "charcoal¬ 
scraping", at 1410-1432 hrs. It was initially located 
by the sound of its scraping, audible for 1.5 m. This 
individual was 0.9 m above ground on south face 
of a 2 m high tree stump, and its body was 
positioned with longitudinal axis parallel to the 
ground. It had used its legs to raise the forepart of 
its venter off the stump surface, while 
simultaneously curving sternites 5,6 and 7 
ventrally so that the extruded ovipositor and 
sternite 7 apex made contact with the stump 
surface. It then walked transversely across the 
charcoal patch (burnt area), while in this raised 
posture, and scraped and picked up charcoal 
particles into its ovipositor by using the combined 
action of its ovipositor and sternite 7 apex. After 
completing one scrape, it faced the opposite 
direction (180° to the direction of the previous 
scrape) and repeated the process, thereafter 
constantly alternating the direction of scrapes. Each 
unidirectional scrape lasted 2-3 sec., with the 
ovipositor remaining in contact with the charcoal 
surface for 1-2 cm maximum width. This female 
