Paropsine Leaf Beetles - Genus Paropsisterna
Subfamily Chrysomelinae, FAMILY CHRYSOMELIDAE
This page contains pictures and information about Paropsine Leaf beetles of Genus Paropsisterna that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.
- Paropsisterna species are from medium to large in size. The body is semicircular to elongate-ovate shape. They are shining brown or black in colour. Some species have a few large red or orange spots on a black or brown background. Most of them, both adults and larvae, feed on eucalyptus, although some species we found feed on other plants. Their host-plants are Myrtaceae, include Acmena, Agonis, Angophora, Baeckea, Callistemon, Darwinia, Eucalyptus, Kunzea, Leptospermum and Melaleuca.
- The genus Paropsisterna has been recently expanded to include Chrysophtharta. They are native to Australia and New Guinea. There are more than a hundred species in this genus in Australia.
- Eight-spotted Leaf Beetle
- Paropsisterna sexpustulata, body length 12mm
- The beetle is dark brown in colour with three bright orange spots on each wing covers and two on thorax. We found this beetle a few times on different plants. Details please chick this page.
- Aerarium Leaf Beetle
- Paropsisterna octolineata, body length 18mm
- We saw this Leaf Beetle on gum leaf once in Karawatha Forest during mid-summer. This is the largest leaf beetle we ever found. The beetle was shiny reddish-brown in colour with dark brown strips. It did not try to escape from our disturb, not fly away nor drop to ground as other leaf beetles often do. For more information and pictures please click on here.
- Shiny Dark-brown Leaf Beetle
- ? Paropsisterna sp., body length 14mm
- This Shiny Dark-brown Leaf Beetle was running very fast on gum stem when we taking its photos in Karawatha Forest during mid summer. The beetle has the very smooth and shiny case. Please also check this page for more information.
- Spotted Orange Leaf Beetle
- Paropsisterna 8-maculata, body length 10mm
- This Leaf Beetle look very similar to the I-Mark Leaf Beetle. When look very carefully, we believe they are difference species. They may just mimicking each other. Pictures were taken in Alexandra Hill during early summer. More information and pictures please click on here.
- Marble Leaf Beetle
- Paropsisterna semifumata, body length 8mm
- September late afternoon on Bulimba Creek, we found this unknown Leaf beetle on a Red Bottle Brush Callistemon citrinus (Myrtaceae), which is camouflaged in pale brown colour.
- Dark Brown Leaf Beetle
- ? Paropsisterna sp, length 15mm
- We found this beetle on grass in Macgregor Park in mid-summer. The body is dark brown in colour with yellow markings.
The former genus Chrysophtharta
- The genus Paropsisterna has been recently expanded to include Chrysophtharta. This group of leaf beetles are relatively smaller in size.
- Reference:
- 1. Paropsisterna Motschulsky, 1860 - Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australia 2005.
- 2. A taxonomic revision of the Australian Chrysomelinae, with a key to the genera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) - Reid, C.A.M., Zootaxa 1292, 2006.
- 3. Key to the Chrysomelinae of New South Wales - FaunaNet, Australian Museum, 2003.
- 4. eucalyptus tortoise beetle Chrysophtharta spp. - PaDIL, Pest and Diseases Image Library, 2007.
- 5. Eucalypt leaf beetles Paropsisterna spp. - PaDIL, Pest and Diseases Image Library, 2007.
