Paropsisterna Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids Paropsisterna

Paropsisterna beata
Scientific classification
Kingdom:	Animalia
Phylum:	Arthropoda
Class:	Insecta
Order:	Coleoptera
Family:	Chrysomelidae
Genus:	Paropsisterna Motschulsky, 1860
Species
see text

Paropsisterna is a group of tiny, colorful beetles called leaf beetles. They are naturally found in Papua New Guinea and Australia. There are more than 120 different kinds, or species, of Paropsisterna beetles. Many of them have bright, eye-catching colors. These bright colors are a special kind of warning signal to predators, telling them that the beetles might taste bad or be harmful. Most Paropsisterna beetles love to munch on the leaves of Eucalyptus trees. This group of beetles now includes some species that used to be known by a different name, Chrysophtharta.

Meet Some Paropsisterna Beetles

Here are a few interesting species of Paropsisterna beetles:

Paropsisterna agricola: This beetle can be a problem for certain types of Eucalyptus trees, like Eucalyptus globulus, E. delegatensis, and E. dalrympleana. It eats their leaves and can cause damage.
Paropsisterna bimaculata: Similar to P. agricola, this beetle is also a pest on Eucalyptus regnans, E. obliqua, and E. delegatensis trees.
Paropsisterna m-fuscum: This species is known to be a pest on Eucalyptus globulus trees.
Paropsisterna selmani: This beetle is a pest on Eucalyptus trees in Tasmania, an island state of Australia. It has also accidentally traveled to the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom, where it continues to feed on Eucalyptus trees.
Paropsisterna tigrina: This beetle has been suggested as a way to control an invasive tree called the Australian Paperbark Tree (Melaleuca quinquenervia) in Florida, USA. This is called "biological control," where one living thing is used to manage another.
Paropsisterna variicollis: This beetle is another pest that feeds on Eucalyptus globulus trees.