Paropsides Explained

Paropsides is a genus of beetles commonly called leaf beetles and in the subfamily Chrysomelinae. They are distributed from eastern Asia to eastern Australia.[1] Paropsides are small and specialist feeders on native Australian plants.There are 21 species in Australia[2] and they occur mainly on the south-eastern states.[3] The green Paropsides calypso is a native species which commonly attacks the lillipilli genus Syzygium. [4] Paropsides opposita feeds on Tea tree Melaleuca sp.

Paropsides belongs to the Paropsis-group of genera, with similar head, appendages, prosternum, elytra, tarsi and larva. Among these genera it is defined by possession of a single attribute, a full complement of pronotal (thoracic) trichobothria (bristles), which is almost certainly a plesiomorphy. Paropsides is therefore unlikely to be monophyletic.[1]

Notes and References

  1. Reid. C.A.M.. 2006. A taxonomic revision of the Australian Chrysomelinae, with a key to the genera (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae). Zootaxa. 1292. 1–119. 10.11646/zootaxa.1292.1.1. free.
  2. Web site: Paropsides | Atlas of Living Australia . Bie.ala.org.au . 2015-11-19.
  3. Web site: Australian Faunal Directory . Environment.gov.au . 2015-11-19.
  4. Web site: Lily Pilly Hedge - Pest eating leaves . Au.gardenweb.com . 2015-11-19.