Paropsis aegrota elliotti - larval grouping.
Distinctive looking paropsine larvae showing their usual behaviour - Paropsis aegrota elliotti (note that subspecies elliotti applies to the Tasmanian population whereas those occurring on the mainland are P. aegrota aegrota). The lavae gather only in small groupings (usually 3 to 4), resting together in tight lines facing into a leaf axil.
The larvae in the top picture are in a slight alarm position - if they were fully at rest the abdomen of the middle one would be resting on top of the thorax of the one tucked close behind it. The larvae below was munching away until I got in it's face and it immediately assumed full alarm position.
The two more horizontal larvae above and the one in the pics below are final (4th) instar larvae - having a fair amount of orange colouring and with swollen abdominal turbicles. I'm assuming the other larvae above is a third instar as it clearly hasn't got swollen turbicles like the other two. First and second instars are black.
Photographed mid-summer, foothills of Mt Wellington, Hobart.
References, including keys and descriptions of Tasmanian Paropsis spp. - eggs, larvae, and adults:
De Little, D. 1979. A preliminary review of the genus Paropsis Olivier (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Tasmania. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 18: 91-107.
Selman, B.J. 1983. The naming of the Tasmanian species of Paropsis Olivier (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 22: 333-339.
Paropsis aegrota elliotti - larval grouping.
Distinctive looking paropsine larvae showing their usual behaviour - Paropsis aegrota elliotti (note that subspecies elliotti applies to the Tasmanian population whereas those occurring on the mainland are P. aegrota aegrota). The lavae gather only in small groupings (usually 3 to 4), resting together in tight lines facing into a leaf axil.
The larvae in the top picture are in a slight alarm position - if they were fully at rest the abdomen of the middle one would be resting on top of the thorax of the one tucked close behind it. The larvae below was munching away until I got in it's face and it immediately assumed full alarm position.
The two more horizontal larvae above and the one in the pics below are final (4th) instar larvae - having a fair amount of orange colouring and with swollen abdominal turbicles. I'm assuming the other larvae above is a third instar as it clearly hasn't got swollen turbicles like the other two. First and second instars are black.
Photographed mid-summer, foothills of Mt Wellington, Hobart.
References, including keys and descriptions of Tasmanian Paropsis spp. - eggs, larvae, and adults:
De Little, D. 1979. A preliminary review of the genus Paropsis Olivier (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae) in Tasmania. Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 18: 91-107.
Selman, B.J. 1983. The naming of the Tasmanian species of Paropsis Olivier (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Journal of the Australian Entomological Society 22: 333-339.