Dotted Paropsine Leaf beetle  - Paropsis atomaria

FAMILY CHRYSOMELIDAE 

This page contains pictures and information about Dotted Paropsine Leaf beetles that we found in the Brisbane area, Queensland, Australia.

 

Body length 10mm

 

 

 

We found one during late winter Aug 2009 in Anstead Forest.  

 

 

 

Both adult and larval stages feed on eucalypt leaves. They feed on a wide range of eucalypts. 

 

 

We sometimes saw this beetle on gum leaf in Karawatha Forest during mid summer.

 

 

  

Eggs, length 2mm                                                  Just hatched, 1st instars.                                       Group feeding, 2nd instars

 

The eggs are laid on young leaf or new stem. The eggs hatched and the larvae feed on the new Eucalypt leave in group. The larvae are pale brown in colour with black dots on body. Their heads and tails are black in colour. They have there pairs of thoracic legs but no abdominal legs. 

 

3rd instars 

 

Early instars feed in 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.

 

Last instars 

 

The 2nd, 3rd, last instars and the empty egg-cases photos were taken on Feb 2011 when they are feeding on a young gum trees.

 

There are four larval instars. Different stages instars can be found on the same host plants. When larvae are mature, they drop to the ground and pupate. 

 

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Reference:

1. Insect Reference Collection Database - Department of Agriculture Western Australia.

2. Paropsis atomaria Olivier - Australian Insect Common Names, CSIRO, 2005. 

3. Leaf beetles (Paropsines) - S. A. Lawson and J. King, Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland, 2006. 

4. Paropsis atomaria - Botanic Gardens Trust. 

5. Chrysomelid Beetles Chrysophtharta spp. and Paropsis spp.- PIRSA Forestry, 1994.

6. Larva Paropsis atomaria Olivier (Chrysomelidae) - from CD-ROM "Beetle Larvae of the World" 

7. Pests and diseases of hardwood plantations - Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries, Queensland, 2005. 

8. Paropsis atomaria Olivier, 1807 - Australian Biological Resources Study, Department of the Environment and Heritage, Australia 2005. 

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Last updated: February 28, 2011.