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Copperart leaf beetle
Chrysolina quadrigemina
-37.8568, 145.32
Field Notes
Description:
A small metallic coloured leaf beetle which looks like it's made of copper right down to the dent-like pits and even some small rivets. Approximately 8mm long.
Habitat:
On a wall in a local nature reserve dominated by small eucalyptus but with many indigenous understory species including acacia, gahnia and leptospermum.
Notes:
For some reason or other this one seemed much darker with flash on than without. Haven't worked that one out yet. <br>
Called 'Klamath Weed Beetle' overseas. <br>
Apparently this was deliberately introduced as a biological control agent to keep 'St John's Wort' (Hypericum perforatum) down and was regarded as successful. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/213106155 It is now 'naturalised. Reading material here http://trove.nla.gov.au/work/23520459?q&versionId=28470408 <br>
family: CHRYSOMELIDAE <br>
subfamily: Chrysomelinae <br>
genus: Chrysolina <br>
Distribution http://spatial.ala.org.au/?q=lsid:%22urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.t… <br>
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