Eucalyptus tortoise beetle facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Eucalyptus tortoise beetle |
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| Paropsis charybdis | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | |
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Chrysomelinae
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| Genus: |
Paropsis
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| Species: |
P. charybdis
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| Binomial name | |
| Paropsis charybdis Stål, 1860
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The Paropsis charybdis, also known as the Eucalyptus tortoise beetle, is a type of leaf beetle. It belongs to a group of beetles known as Paropsis. This beetle is often seen as a pest because it can harm certain kinds of Eucalyptus trees.
Contents
What Does the Eucalyptus Tortoise Beetle Look Like?
The Eucalyptus tortoise beetle is easy to spot. It has pale, creamy-white wing covers, called elytra. On these wing covers, you'll see three wide, dark stripes going across. The underside of the beetle is a yellow-brown color.
Where Does This Beetle Live?
The Paropsis charybdis beetle originally comes from Australia. However, it has also spread to nearby New Zealand.
How Does the Beetle Behave?
Natural Enemies of the Beetle
Scientists have used special tiny wasps to help control the Eucalyptus tortoise beetle. These wasps are called Ennogera nassaui and Eadya paropsidis. They are known as parasitoid wasps. This means they lay their eggs inside or on the beetle. When the wasp eggs hatch, the larvae eat the beetle. This method is called biological control. It is a way to control pests using their natural enemies instead of chemicals.
Why Is This Beetle Important to Humans?
A Pest for Eucalyptus Trees
The Paropsis charybdis beetle is a big problem for eucalyptus trees in New Zealand. It is the most serious insect that eats the leaves of these trees. It especially likes eucalyptus trees that belong to the group called Symphyomyrtus.
Some of the eucalyptus trees that get attacked the most include:
