Genus of beetles
Paropsisterna is a genus of leaf beetles indigenous to Papua New Guinea and Australia. There are over 120 species, many with bright aposematic colours, and many feeding on "Eucalyptus" leaves.
The genus was described by Victor Motschulsky in 1860.
Description.
"Paropsisterna" are beetles 3-17 mm long with bodies semicircular to elongate-ovate and moderately to strongly convex. The frontoclypeal suture is rounded or V-shaped, and lacks lateral ridges. The apical maxillary palpomere is strongly expanded from base to truncate apex. The pronotum is broadest at its base. The procoxal cavity is open with a gap at least half the width of the procoxa. The mid and hind tibiae have at least one sharp external longitudinal keel. The tarsal claws are usually acutely toothed, rarely simple.
Some species are very colourful, but their colours may fade after death.
Diet.
This genus of beetles feeds on plants in family Myrtaceae, including "Acmena", "Agonis", "Angophora", "Baeckea", "Callistemon", "Darwinia", "Eucalyptus", "Kunzea", "Leptospermum" and "Melaleuca". There are also records from "Acacia" (which is in family Fabaceae), but these are likely to be erroneous or related to casual collecting.
List of species.
As of 2006, "Pariosisterna" includes the species that were once in genera "Niliosoma" Motschulsky, "Sterromela" Weise, "Chrysophtharta" Weise and "Xanthogramma" Weise (note the last of these is also a junior homonym of "Xanthogramma" Schiner, an invalid but available name). ;templatestyles src="Div col/styles.css"/ ;
References.
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