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- This insect family is commonly called Leaf Beetle. They are also known as Chrysomelid
beetles, Tortoise beetles or Eucalypt beetles. Most species
in this family,
adults and larvae, feed
on leaves.
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 - Leaf Beetles
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- Leaf beetle adults usually
range from 5 to 15 mm in length and are brightly coloured. They have
different body shapes, from elongate, flattened to globular. Some may be
mistaken for ladybird beetles due to their oval shape. Their antenna usually less than
half the length of their bodies. One of their characteristics is that they can
hide their legs and antennae under their wing covers while sitting on a leaf.
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- For most of the Leaf Beetle species we found, they feed primarily on Eucalypt and
Acacia leaves. Both the adults and larvae eat plant
material, store those plant chemicals in their body, and are poisonous to the
predators. There is no wonder why most of the Leaf Beetles are with bright body
colours.
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- Leaf beetles are closely related with Longicorn Beetles, some of them have similar body
shape but their eyes generally not notched.
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- Leaf beetle larvae are also vary in shape. They often with three pairs of
well developed legs and dark head. Early instars feed in a group. As the larvae grow they may stay in a group or feed
individually. Leaves are often chewed down to the central vein of leaves.
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- Pupae are rarely seen because the
larvae drop from tree and pupate in the litter and soil below the tree.
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- Different type of Leaf Beetle eggs, length 2-3mm
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- Eggs, length 2mm
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- Eggs are laid on leaves or stems, usually near new growth. The eggs laid in patterns characteristic
of the species.
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- Eggs and larvae are very vulnerable to
predators such as ladybirds, predatory bugs and
tiny wasp
parasites.
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- The life cycle of different species of leaf beetles are more or less
similar. We had recorded the life cycle
details of Acacia Leaf Beetle.
Classifications
- We found quite a number of Leaf Beetle species in different
subfamilies. They are listed as follow.
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- Seed Beetles - Bruchinae
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- Narrow-necked Leaf Beetles - Criocerinae
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- Leaf Tortoise Beetles - Cassidinae
  -
- Leaf Cylinder Beetles - Cryptocephalinae
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- Leaf Monkey Beetles - Eumolpinae
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- Tortoise Leaf Beetles - Chrysomelinae,
Genus Dicranosterna
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- Tortoise Leaf Beetles - Chrysomelinae, Genus
Paropsis
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- Tortoise Leaf Beetles - Chrysomelinae, Genus
Trachymela
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- Tortoise Leaf Beetles - Chrysomelinae, Genus
Paropsisterna
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- Tortoise Leaf Beetles - Chrysomelinae, Genus
Paropsisterna, former
genus Chrysophtharta
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- Tortoise Leaf Beetles - Chrysomelinae, Genus
Calomela
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- Tortoise Leaf Beetles - Chrysomelinae, Genus
Lamprolina
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- Tortoise Leaf Beetles - Chrysomelinae, Genus
Tinosis
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- Tortoise Leaf Beetles - Chrysomelinae, Other
Genera
 
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- Leaf Flea Beetles - Galerucinae, Alticini
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- Leaf Flea Beetles - Galerucinae, Galerucini
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- Unidentified Leaf Beetles
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- Reference:
- 1. Insects
of Australia, CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Melbourne University
Press, 2nd Edition 1991, p 674.
- 2. CHRYSOMELIDAE - Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australia 2005.
- 3. Key to the Chrysomelinae of New South Wales - FaunaNet, Australian Museum, 2003.
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