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Paropsisterna morio
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.
Local parkland on small eucalyptus.
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...
7 Comments
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.
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...
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)
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...
I agree about the shine martin... not enough boot polish on mine maybe.
Thanks Martin - that's the same link I have in my notes.
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_...