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?Paropsisterna morio

Paropsisterna morio

Description:

About 14mm long this black beetle was exploring a small eucalyptus tree which had many other leaf beetles (mostly Paropsis atomaria). Almost black but some hint of very dark brown.

Habitat:

Local parkland on small eucalyptus.

Notes:

Possibly the same as Shiny Dark-brown Leaf Beetle - Paropsisterna sp. Subfamily Chrysomelinae, FAMILY CHRYSOMELIDAE http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_... but I'm going to look around some first. Also possibly P.rufipes and P.morio ... http://www.flickr.com/photos/zosterops/3...

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7 Comments

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 11 years ago

Martin I think the Brisbane one might be different (so shiny and different roundness) but the Tas. one is the same - again by servitude on Flickr. I'm following him there as he obviously has some serious knowledge of arthropods. I have also got a lot of other ID's from that Tas website over the last few months - they're doing a great job.

MartinL
MartinL 11 years ago

Argy Bee. Check this link. The black morph is still probably not our beetle but the link has some great pics https://sites.google.com/site/insectsoft...

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 11 years ago

Yours has a bit more polish. How about this idea... a melanic version of Paropsis atomaria ? The tree had plenty of those on it. (I note Peter Chew was thinking melanic version of Paropsisterna octolineata)

MartinL
MartinL 11 years ago

There's my spotting Mr Bee. I think these may be the same. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/791... See the melanic one here (pic #3) http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/815...

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 11 years ago

I agree about the shine martin... not enough boot polish on mine maybe.

Mark Ridgway
Mark Ridgway 11 years ago

Thanks Martin - that's the same link I have in my notes.

MartinL
MartinL 11 years ago

I suspect that some leaf beetles such as Chrysophtharta variicollis have a melanic form. However there is a black species of paropsisterna here (very shiny!) The black ones still puzzle me.
http://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_...

Mark Ridgway
Spotted by
Mark Ridgway

Victoria, Australia

Spotted on Dec 14, 2012
Submitted on Dec 16, 2012

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