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Project Noah Nature School
Chrysolina quadrigemina
A small metallic coloured leaf beetle which looks like it's made of copper right down to the dent-like pits and even some small rivets. Approximately 8mm long.
On a wall in a local nature reserve dominated by small eucalyptus but with many indigenous understory species including acacia, gahnia and leptospermum.
For some reason or other this one seemed much darker with flash on than without. Haven't worked that one out yet.
Called 'Klamath Weed Beetle' overseas.
Apparently this was deliberately introduced as a biological control agent to keep 'St John's Wort' (Hypericum perforatum) down and was regarded as successful. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/213... It is now 'naturalised. Reading material here http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/23520459?q&...
family: CHRYSOMELIDAE
subfamily: Chrysomelinae
genus: Chrysolina
Distribution http://spatial.ala.org.au/?q=lsid:%22urn...
Oh brilliant thanks Martin. Quite a pretty little character but different from our natives. Being a foreigner would explain it's slightly unusual appearance. A St John's wort agent eh. This will be an interesting read.
Nice beetle! Chrysomelidae, of course.
Not sure if it is supposed to occur in Australia but I saw it too;
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/237...
and Nick has it on lifeunseen, where I got the ID from.
Spotted on Apr 13, 2014
Submitted on Apr 13, 2014
+1
