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Project Noah Nature School
Paropsisterna octolineata
This beetle was about 15mm long, black with thin red linear stripes on its elytra. A broad thorax also had black and red colours. Legs showed a bi-lobed white-lined pads, typical to this species of chrysomelid beetle. The elytra were buckled, exposing the abdomen and some of the hind wings. there appeared to be no breaks or tears. Thorax and head looked intact and the beetle was scuttling around at a normal pace.
Stringy bark eucalyptus tree
I am unsure if this beetle had just come out of its pupa with its elytra and wings yet to fully spread out or, whether it was attacked by a bird. Also, thought of a possible deformity ??. Any assistance with this would be greatly appreciated. The beetle was moving quite fast up the tree and so, made it difficult to study it any better. I am posting all available photos and hopefully find it again for better shots ! This Chrysomelid beetle was larger than both Paropsis and Paropsisterna leaf beetles seen on the gum trees here. Hopefully, I will be able to find more of these beautiful beetles around this season...
Spotted on Feb 9, 2013
Submitted on Feb 12, 2013
2 Comments
Martin, Thanks for looking at this. That's sad that the wings can get stuck and not unfold if it's too dry. i went looking for him today but there was no sign of him or any similar beetle. Will keep looking.
About the name, I think the specific name vittipennis is the old name and the accepted one now is octolineata, according to Atlas of Living Australia - link below
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Paropsiste...
About PaDIL, we are able to access it on one computer and not the other. Mark says he'll work out why...
Thanks again Martin !
Nice Leuba.
I found one similar, without deformed wings and ID slightly different. My ID link to PaDIL seems to be dead. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/799...
Yours has deformed wings and I guess either by falling to the ground as wings were setting or sometimes when they emerge and its too dry, like midday, it can get stuck in its exuvia =(
Try this one http://morwellnp.pangaean.net/cgi-bin/sh...