Southern Leaf Beetle - Paropsisterna bimaculata
This is the 'green' or usual form of this beetle. It is very common in Tasmania and causes huge losses in forestry yields. It causes shudders down the spine of eucalyptus plantation workers around the world. Biological control agents include parasitoid braconid wasps.
''Paropsisterna bimaculata'' is a beetle commonly called a leaf beetle in the subfamily Chrysomelinae.
This insect is common in Tasmania and can be a pest in the forestry industry.
Paropsisterna bimaculata will develop a red color just before their winter hibernation. When they emerge the red slowly disappears into a pale green colouring with faint gold tessellation. This takes about a month with the males generally slightly advanced.
Recently this beetle has been noticed in Victoria.
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