Paropsis maculata

Paropsine beetles feed primarily on eucalypts and acacias, both the adults and larvae eat plant material and are extremely poisonous if eaten by other animals.

One of their characteristics which I observed with this specimen, is that they can withdraw their legs and antennae from predators if a threat is perceived.

Paropsine beetle populations are controlled by parasitic flies of the family Tachinidae.

10 mm length