Tasmanian Gold
Paropsisterna aurea
Paropsisterna aurea (Blackburn, 1899) or "Tasmanian Gold" is an Eucalyptus leaf beetle (Chrysomelinae: Paropsisterna) endemic to Tasmania, that feeds on Snow gums (Eucalyptus pauciflora). The plain elytral colour varies from citrine to golden yellow.
It is very close to, or even the same species as Paropsisterna hectica from mainland Victoria and the two may be synonymized at some point (or classified as a subspecies?). Until then the "golden" Tasmanian form is valid as P. aurea and the greenish form from the mainland as P. hectica.
It is very close to, or even the same species as Paropsisterna hectica from mainland Victoria and the two may be synonymized at some point (or classified as a subspecies?). Until then the "golden" Tasmanian form is valid as P. aurea and the greenish form from the mainland as P. hectica.