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Leaf beetles

Adult eucalyptus leaf beetle
Eucalyptus tortoise beetle (Paropsis atomaria)
Adult northern eucalyptus leaf beetle
Northern eucalyptus beetle (Paropsisterna cloelia)
Eggs of the eucalyptus leaf beetle
Distinctive arrangement of the eucalyptus tortoise beetle eggs (Paropsis atomaria).
Larvae of the northern eucalyptus leaf beetle (Paropsisterna cloelia
Larvae of  the northern eucalyptus leaf beetle (Paropsisterna cloelia).


General information

The paropsine leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) include the eucalyptus tortoise beetles (Paropsis) and eucalyptus leaf beetles (Paropsisterna) and their relatives. Larvae feeding on foliage can severely defoliate the crown. Repeated defoliations can have a significant impact on tree growth. In northern New South Wales and southeastern Queensland there are up to four generations a year, causing at least three peaks in defoliation.

Scientific name

Paropsis atomaria and Paropsisterna cloelia
Description
  • adult chrysomelid beetles may look like ladybirds, but have longer antennae. It is important to distinguish between the two because ladybirds are beneficial insects
  • size ranges from about 4 mm to 15 mm long
  • many species are metallic, pink, yellow, beige or red
  • some adults have finely patterned elytra (wing covers); some of these are strongly patterned with red and black
  • larvae have well developed dark heads and three pairs of legs, most are pale, some with dark stripes along the body 
  • larvae feed on the soft, young growth in the crowns, giving a characteristic 'broom top' appearance
  • scalloped leaf edges indicate adult leaf beetles feeding.
Distribution
  • widely distributed throughout Queensland and southeastern Australia
  • Paropsis atomaria is common and widely distributed throughout southeastern Queensland and further south, while Paropsisterna cloelia is found in southeastern Queensland and northern Queensland.
Hosts
  • affect trees under three years old
  • tree species susceptible to Paropsis atomaria:
    • Gympie messmate
    • blackbutt
    • spotted gum
    • Dunn's white gum
  • tree species susceptible to Paropsisterna cloelia:
    • rose gum and hybrids
    • Dunn's white gum.
Damage
  • crowns can be defloliated by gregariously feeding larvae and develop a characteristic 'broom top' appearance
  • repeated defoliation affects growth
  • high densities of larvae can cause a temporary loss of apical dominance and 'bushing' in the upper crown
  • adult feeding damage is identified by 'scalloped' leaf edges.

Resources

Author: Simon Lawson
Page maintained by Susan House
Last reviewed 29 April 2009
URL: http://www.dpi.qld.gov.au/cps/rde/xchg/dpi/hs.xsl/cps/rde/dpi/hs.xsl/26_12388_ENA_HTML.htm

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