Alice Springs Desert Park

ASDP Insects > Insects Index

Pictured here is the larvae of the Blessed Leaf Beetle (Paropsisterna beata), in the family Chrysomelidae). These larvae were living under the loose bark of a eucalypt tree. The larvae also appears to be variable (possibly at different stages of development).

Paropsisterna beata (Blessed Leaf Beetle) larva, Alice Springs Desert Park NT
Paropsisterna beata (Blessed Leaf Beetle) larva, Alice Springs Desert Park NT

The adult Paropsisterna beata is a variable beetle, with glossy elytra that has a dark to black base and 6 large spots. The smooth punctation (characterized by dots), with muted to bright markings that are usually yellow or orange. The head and pronotal cheeks are either yellow, orange or red and they usually have a coloured ‘skirt’.

Paropsisterna beata (Blessed Leaf Beetle) larva, Alice Springs Desert Park NT
Paropsisterna beata (Blessed Leaf Beetle) larva, Alice Springs Desert Park NT

Check out our main section on Fauna | Insects | Coleoptera | Coleoptera Index | Paropsisterna sp | Paropsisterna beata


  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Chrysomeloidea
  • Family: Chrysomelidae
  • Subfamily: Chrysomelinae
  • Genus: Paropsisterna
  • Species: Paropsisterna beata

Footnote & References

  1. Paropsisterna beata (Newman, 1842), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Paropsisterna beata
  2. Paropsisterna beata, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/428571-Paropsisterna-beata

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