Paropsisterna spParopsisterna beata Paropsisterna m-fuscum Paropsisterna pictipes
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”.
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.
- 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
- Marc Newman, Flickr
- Paropsisterna beata (Newman, 1842), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/55e54de6-346b-4f8e-9b37-25071d96e865
- Paropsisterna beata, Canberra Nature Map, https://canberra.naturemapr.org/species/9804
- Paropsisterna beata, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paropsisterna_beata
Paropsisterna spParopsisterna beata Paropsisterna m-fuscum Paropsisterna pictipes
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