Southern Downs InsectsSouthern Downs Beetles Southern Downs Butterflies & Moths Australian Emperor Common Drone Fly Scarlet Percher

The Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) belong to the genus Paropsis, a group commonly referred to as Tortoise Beetles.

The Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle is a small common leaf beetle found along the east coast of Australia. Described as a small, convex beetle, usually with dark transverse bands (not sure where the “blue” fits into the picture), but its form can vary down the southern extent of its range.

The genus Paropsis are found in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, they primarily feed on Eucalyptus, although there are some that feed on Baeckea, Kunzea and Leptospermum. They are sometimes mistaken for ladybirds (family Coccinellidae), they belong to the family Chrysomelidae, of which there are over 70 described species.

Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle (Paropsis obsoleta) found on Eucalypt, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Subclass: Pterygota
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Infraorder: Cucujiformia
  • Superfamily: Chrysomeloidea
  • Family: Chrysomelidae
  • Subfamily: Chrysomelinae
  • Tribe: Gonioctenini
  • Subtribe: Paropsina
  • Genus: Paropsis
  • Species: Paropsis obsoleta

Footnote & References

  1. Marc Newman, Flickr
  2. Genus Paropsis, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/201883-Paropsis
  3. Paropsis obsoleta, Jungle Dragon, https://www.jungledragon.com/image/39535/paropsis_obsoleta.html
  4. Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle – Paropsis obsoleta, risbane Insects and Spiders, https://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_leafbeetles/RedBlueBanded.htm (reference source)

Southern Downs InsectsSouthern Downs Beetles Southern Downs Butterflies & Moths Australian Emperor Common Drone Fly Scarlet Percher

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