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Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle (Paropsis atomaria) A beautiful peach coloured beetle with a dome-shaped body. The elytra (hard wing covers) were covered with minute pale spots. This female beetle was seen laying eggs - elongated pale pink structures at her rear. When these beetles are laying eggs they are very focused and are not easily perturbed.<br />
The eggs are arranged around the stem as can be seen in the next spotting:<br />
<figure class="photo"><a href="https://www.jungledragon.com/image/36861/eucalyptus_leaf_beetle_eggs_paropsis_atomaria.html" title="Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle eggs (Paropsis atomaria)"><img src="https://s3.amazonaws.com/media.jungledragon.com/images/2767/36861_thumb.jpg?AWSAccessKeyId=05GMT0V3GWVNE7GGM1R2&Expires=1759968010&Signature=ITsSwB6%2BSG4WGafiern6DeNTDJM%3D" width="200" height="150" alt="Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle eggs (Paropsis atomaria) Cluster of eggs of the beetle seen laying them around a eucalyptus stem in the previous spotting<br />
http://www.jungledragon.com/image/36860/eucalyptus_leaf_beetle_paropsis_atomaria.html<br />
The clusters look like miniature bottle brushes with each egg having a star-shaped free end. These clusters were seen mostly along stems of younger branches, probably to facilitate easy access to young leaves when the larvae hatch. Australia,Geotagged,Paropsis atomaria,Speckled eucalyptus leaf beetle,Spring,eggs,paropsis" /></a></figure> Australia,Geotagged,Paropsis atomaria,Speckled eucalyptus leaf beetle,Spring,eggs,paropsis

Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle (Paropsis atomaria)

A beautiful peach coloured beetle with a dome-shaped body. The elytra (hard wing covers) were covered with minute pale spots. This female beetle was seen laying eggs - elongated pale pink structures at her rear. When these beetles are laying eggs they are very focused and are not easily perturbed.
The eggs are arranged around the stem as can be seen in the next spotting:

Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle eggs (Paropsis atomaria) Cluster of eggs of the beetle seen laying them around a eucalyptus stem in the previous spotting<br />
http://www.jungledragon.com/image/36860/eucalyptus_leaf_beetle_paropsis_atomaria.html<br />
The clusters look like miniature bottle brushes with each egg having a star-shaped free end. These clusters were seen mostly along stems of younger branches, probably to facilitate easy access to young leaves when the larvae hatch. Australia,Geotagged,Paropsis atomaria,Speckled eucalyptus leaf beetle,Spring,eggs,paropsis

comments (2)

Ferdy Christant

Lion

Another beautiful and educational post! Posted 9 years ago

Leuba Ridgway

Lion

Thank you Ferdy. It's been so dry here the last two years that we have not seen a single Paropsis beetle- hope better times return ! Posted 9 years ago

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The Speckled eucalyptus leaf beetle

Paropsis atomaria is a common eucalyptus leaf beetle in the subfamily Chrysomelinae. They occur along eastern Australia from Adelaide to Brisbane.

Similar species: Beetles

Species identified by Mark Ridgway

By Leuba Ridgway

All rights reserved

Uploaded Mar 18, 2016. Captured Oct 13, 2012 13:51 in LOT 26 Talaskia Rd, Upper Ferntree Gully VIC 3156, Australia.

country flag of Australia

Explore Australia 13,073 4,173 3

SZ-10
f/3.7
10/1000s
ISO64
10.99mm

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Eggs, larvae and pupae of Chrysomelidae (all authors and licenses) (100)

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