Golden leaf beetle - Paropsisterna aurea
An unmistakable paropsine - Paropsisterna aurea. Photographed in February, Mt Wellington, Tasmania.
The adults can vary slightly in colouring from citrine to golden yellow. The former generally seen in the wetter parts of the state whilst the latter in the drier parts. They also develop reddish pigmentation during hybernation which eventually dissappears after they become active again.
They prefer peppermints as hosts.
Reference:
de Little, D. W. (1979). Taxonomic and ecological studies of the Eucalyptus-defoliating paropsids (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), with particular reference to Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Olivier). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Tasmania: Hobart.
Golden leaf beetle - Paropsisterna aurea
An unmistakable paropsine - Paropsisterna aurea. Photographed in February, Mt Wellington, Tasmania.
The adults can vary slightly in colouring from citrine to golden yellow. The former generally seen in the wetter parts of the state whilst the latter in the drier parts. They also develop reddish pigmentation during hybernation which eventually dissappears after they become active again.
They prefer peppermints as hosts.
Reference:
de Little, D. W. (1979). Taxonomic and ecological studies of the Eucalyptus-defoliating paropsids (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), with particular reference to Chrysophtharta bimaculata (Olivier). Ph.D. Thesis, University of Tasmania: Hobart.