Paropsis atomaria is a common leaf beetle in the subfamily Chrysomelinae. The specific name, atomaria, translates to mean "speckled" or "freckled". This species is found across eastern Australia from Adelaide to Brisbane. P. atomaria typically produces two generations during the summer across most of its range. A female can lay up to 600 eggs, which are deposited at the tip of a leaf or twig. While not all Paropsis species are pests, P. atomaria is one of the few paropsines that may become a pest of plantation trees. This species has also been introduced to the west coast of North America.
From Wikipedia, under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Is it venomous or poisonous?
We have no record of Dotted Paropsine Leaf Beetle being toxic, poisonous or venomous. That is not proof that it is safe. Never eat, touch or handle a wild plant, mushroom or animal on the strength of an identification; ask someone qualified.
Easily confused with
- Paropsis omphale
- Paropsis variolosa
- Paropsis delittlei
- Paropsis quadrimaculata
- Paropsis charybdis
- Paropsisterna cloelia
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Chrysomelidae
- Genus
- Paropsis
- Species
- Paropsis atomaria
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