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Project Noah Nature School
Paropsisterna decolorata
Delicate spotted pattern on this leaf beetle
Feeding on Fresh Eucalyptus leaves
Tortoise beetle #3
Spotted on Nov 8, 2011
Submitted on Nov 18, 2011
5 Comments
Leaf beetles are one of my favorites too, because they are so colorfull and different from each other, they always surprise me.
You can see why these subtle beetles are my favorite group. This one is quite scarce. Each species has their unique egg laying pattern.
http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/830...
It's like ivory inlay! these are such gorgeous beetles and this is a great photo martinl !
Eucalyptus oil is used as an antiseptic and it repels most insects. In Australia, many insects have learned to eat the leaves and they often gain the same protection that the tree does. Koalas eat these leaves too but it just makes them drowsy.
What a pretty beetle! It's interesting to see so many insects feeding on Eucalyptus... I guess I've always thought of it as one of those plants (like the sagebrush we have here) that most creatures don't like or can't digest.