Saffron eucalyptus leaf beetle

Paropsisterna crocata

Paropsisterna crocata is one of the larger eucalyptus leaf beetles native to Australia. This is possibly the largest of all species of the Paropsisterna and is easily mistaken for Paropsis. The common name 'Saffron' is proposed based on the latin name given to this beetle when first described by Boisduval in 1835.
Saffron eucalyptus leaf beetle (Paropsisterna crocata) This one was drawn to lights at the local primary school at night. Quite large for a Paropsine beetle at about 15mm long. Clean, soft shades of cream and pink not common in this group. Australia,Geotagged,Paropsisterna,Paropsisterna crocata,Saffron eucalyptus leaf beetle,Winter

Appearance

About 15mm overall. High domed shape. Small flare around the margin of the elytra. A very even smooth shape overall but with a single 'bump' near each elytra base giving 'shoulders'
Colours are plain and pale and include salmon pink, creamy yellow, pale tan, ghostly grey.
Chrysomelid Leaf Beetle -female (Paropsisterna crocata) A beautiful high-backed beetle with peach-coloured elytra and a greenish pronotum. The elytra were pitted. Spotted on a eucalyptus tree (species not known) in a national park. There were not many beetles around this time of year - just coming out of winter so this was an exciting find ! Australia,Geotagged,Paropsisterna crocata,Saffron eucalyptus leaf beetle,Spring

Distribution

Southern parts of the Australian including Tasmania.
Paropsisterna crocata A large member of the paropsisterna genus with elytral puncturations randomly placed. Very convex, usually scarce, NSW, Victoria and Tasmania. Crocus flower is the source of saffron spice. Australia,Geotagged,Paropsisterna,Paropsisterna crocata,Saffron eucalyptus leaf beetle,Winter

Status

Occasionally rare

Habitat

Eucalyptus forests and woodlands.

Food

Eucalyptus viminalis

References:

Some text fragments are auto parsed from Wikipedia.

https://sites.google.com/site/paropsisternapages/paropsisterna-x4
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/Paropsisterna%20crocata#
https://sites.google.com/site/insectsoftaschrysomeloidea/suborder-polyphaga/chrysomelidae-leaf-beetles/subfamily-chrysomelinae/genus-paropsisterna/paropsisterna-crocata
Taxonomy
KingdomAnimalia
DivisionArthropoda
ClassInsecta
OrderColeoptera
FamilyChrysomelidae
GenusParopsisterna
SpeciesParopsisterna crocata
Photographed in
Australia