Paropsisterna beata

Paropsisterna sp > Paropsisterna Index
— see Paropsine Beetle

The Blessed Leaf Beetle Paropsisterna beata (family Chrysomelidae) 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’.

Sometimes, two of the blotches on each elytron are joined (particularly on those found in the north of the range of the species.

In the subspecies, P. beata rubrosignata, the elytral spots are more yellowish in colour and the marginal colouring is thicker and more reddish.

The adult beetles are about 12 mm in length and have hardened forewings called elytra (singular – elytron) that cover and protect the membranous hindwings.

The word beata is derived from the Latin beatus, meaning “blessed”.

The larvae of the Paropsisterna beata are often found under the bark of eucalypts. In the following photo, the loose bark had fallen off the trunk of the eucalypt. The larvae then moved to another bark section (hopefully before any predator saw them). More photos of the larvae can be seen on the Alice Springs Desert Park

This species is found along the east coast of Australia from Queensland, New South Wale, ACT, Victoria, South Australia, the south west of Western Australia, and the Top End of the Northern Territory.

Paropsisterna beata is sometimes mistaken for Paropsisterna sexpustulata. Whilst the three blotches on the elytra are similar, in Paropsisterna beata, the front mark (blotch) has a more or less triangular shape and there is a wide red lateral border on the elytra. Paropsisterna sexpustulata has no red lateral border.

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• 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

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Paropsisterna spParopsisterna Index Paropsisterna beata Paropsisterna fastidiosa Paropsisterna m-fuscum Paropsisterna pictipes Paropsisterna sexpustulata

ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Lycidae Neospades sp Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

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