Paropsine BeetleParopsis maculata Paropsis porosa Paropsis sospita

— Paropsisterna Beetle

The Paropsine Beetles are a medium size beetles belonging to several genera, of the family Chrysomelidae. Found throughout Australia, they are an interesting and often colourful group of leaf beetles that feed primarily on eucalypts, acacias or Angophora (from the myrtle family).

After hatching from eggs, these beetle larvae go through a number of instars stages, before emerging as the adult. The adults and larvae feed on the primary host plants, some are known to be poisonous if eaten, especially by birds. Adult beetles may display peck marks where birds have attempted to eat them, then rejecting them after tasting the poison.

The Paropsine Beetles are found in forests, woodlands, heath and urban areas.

Their hemispherical shape, often get them mistaken for ladybirds (in the family Coccinellidae).

In the genus Paropsis, Atlas of Living Australia had 71 species listed (at time of writing).

Paropsis maculata
Tortoise Beetle (Paropsis maculata), Southern Downs QLD © Marc Newman
  • Tortoise Beetle (Paropsis maculata), Southern Downs QLD © Marc Newman
Paropsis obsoleta
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
  • Paropsis obsoleta (Red-blue Banded Leaf Beetle), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Paropsis porosa
Paropsis porosa, Newnes Plateau NSW © Eamonn Culhane
  • Paropsis porosa, Newnes Plateau NSW © Eamonn Culhane
Paropsis variolosa
Paropsis variolosa, Georges River, Sydney NSW © Eamonn Culhane
Paropsis variolosa, Georges River, Sydney NSW © Eamonn Culhane
Paropsis variolosa, Georges River, Sydney NSW © Eamonn Culhane
Paropsis variolosa, Georges River, Sydney NSW © Eamonn Culhane
  • Paropsis variolosa, Georges River, Sydney NSW © Eamonn Culhane

This section on Paropsine Beetle is a continuing work in progress…

  • 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 aciculata Chapuis, 1877
    • Paropsis advena Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis aegrota Boisduval, 1835
    • Paropsis affinis Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis angusticollis Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis aspera Chapuis, 1877
    • Paropsis atomaria Olivier, 1807
    • Paropsis augusta Blackburn, 1901
    • Paropsis bella Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis binbinga Daccordi, 2003
    • Paropsis bivulnerata Lea, 1924
    • Paropsis blandina Blackburn, 1901
    • Paropsis bovilli Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis carnosa Baly, 1866
    • Paropsis cerea Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis charybdis Stål, 1860
    • Paropsis confusa Blackburn, 1890
    • Paropsis convexa Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis deboeri Selman, 1983
    • Paropsis delittlei Selman, 1983
    • Paropsis deserti Blackburn, 1896
    • Paropsis dilatata Erichson, 1842
    • Paropsis elytrura Blackburn, 1901
    • Paropsis formosa Chapuis, 1877
    • Paropsis geographica Baly, 1866
    • Paropsis glauca Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis hebes Weise, 1917
    • Paropsis hygea Blackburn, 1901
    • Paropsis inquinata Weise, 1917
    • Paropsis insularis Blackburn, 1890
    • Paropsis intermedia Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis irrorata Chapuis, 1877
    • Paropsis latissima Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis latona Blackburn, 1901
    • Paropsis longicornis Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis lownei Baly, 1866
    • Paropsis lutea (Marsham, 1808)
    • Paropsis maculata (Marsham, 1808)
    • Paropsis mandibularis Weise, 1923
    • Paropsis manto Blackburn, 1901
    • Paropsis marmorea Olivier, 1807
    • Paropsis minor (Marsham, 1808)
    • Paropsis mintha Blackburn, 1901
    • Paropsis montana Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis morbillosa Boisduval, 1835
    • Paropsis mutabilis Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis mystica Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis obsoleta Olivier, 1807
    • Paropsis omphale Blackburn, 1901
    • Paropsis ornata (Marsham, 1808)
    • Paropsis pantherina Fauvel, 1862
    • Paropsis paphia Stål, 1860
    • Paropsis parryi Baly, 1866
    • Paropsis pictipennis Boheman, 1859
    • Paropsis ponderosa Lea, 1924
    • Paropsis porosa Erichson, 1842
    • Paropsis propinqua Baly, 1866
    • Paropsis quadrimaculata (Marsham, 1808)
    • Paropsis roseola Baly, 1866
    • Paropsis rubidipes Blackburn, 1901
    • Paropsis rufitarsis Chapuis, 1877
    • Paropsis rugulosa Boisduval, 1835
    • Paropsis sospita Blackburn, 1901
    • Paropsis tasmanica Baly, 1866
    • Paropsis thyone Blackburn, 1901
    • Paropsis ustulata Olivier, 1807
    • Paropsis variegata Blackburn, 1894
    • Paropsis variolosa (Marsham, 1808)
    • Paropsis wilsoni Baly, 1866
    • Paropsis yilgarnensis Blackburn, 1892
    • Paropsis zietzi Blackburn, 1894

Footnote & References

  1. Australasian Beetles Facebook group, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1180404322409639
  2. Chrysomelidae, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/cbca50ba-be34-42b6-adfa-0a2941c94ef9#overview
  3. Paropsis Olivier, 1807, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/f636b701-14b7-4307-b79e-272d5f4b0c38
  4. Paropsine Beetle, Australian Museum, https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/paropsine-beetle/

Paropsine BeetleParopsis maculata Paropsis porosa Paropsis sospita

ColeopteraAmarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Buprestidae Cerambycidae Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Digitonthophagus gazella Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Johannica gemellata (Pandorea Leaf Beetle) Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Neospades sp Lycidae Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Pittosporum Leaf Beetle (Lamprolina impressicollis) Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera (True Bugs) Mango Planthopper Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Syrphidae Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub