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GT stripe beetle

Paropsisterna

Photo by MartinL
Published on Project Noah
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Field Notes

Description:

An orange leaf beetle with purple GT stripes.
This is a very unusual color pattern and an exciting new sighting for me.

Notes:

The broad dark line along the elytral suture causes me to think this is a close ally of Paropsisterna hectica, an uncommon and montane species from Victoria and NSW which is green.
http://www.bowerbird.org.au/observations/10086
http://bie.ala.org.au/species/urn:lsid:biodiversity.org.au:afd.taxon:11…

Another related possibility is Paropsisterna aurea which has a closer color match but the longtitudinal purple bands is novel. This species is endemic to Tasmania. https://www.flickr.com/photos/zosterops/6301125193/

Reference Links:

Paropsisterna hectica | Atlas of Living Australia

Species ID Suggestions

Comments (7)
MartinL
Yes Mark. Stringybark. I'm not sure which one but rather coarsebark textture (like ironbark) and glossy, broad and short leaves.
MartinL
You seem to do well in caryards, Mark. I spend a lot of time at Warrandyte Reserve by the Yarra. Those beetles do get repetitive but there is always something new, so far, especially when we do 'armchair splitting'. Heyfield (actually Coongulla) is more montane and does yield different species. I have found Paropsis maculata last season and this one today.
Mark Ridgway
Great Martin. We might have to do some touring to find some of these different ones. This one was found on eucy ??
MartinL
Thank you Vinny Thank you Mac. I suspect this might be a teneral Paropsisterna hectica I will monitor it to determine if it has a color change as the shell hardens.
Vinny
Cool spotting, I Like the GT stripes!

Spotted for Missions

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Beetles of Southeastern Australia
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Beetles!

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Photographed
PublishedSeptember 8, 2014

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