Paropsisterna tigrina, commonly known as the pyrgo beetle, is a species of leaf beetle native to Australia. It is a member of the genus Paropsisterna, which encompasses over 120 species, many of which are brightly colored and feed on eucalyptus leaves.

---

Physical Description

• Size: Approximately 5 mm in length.

• Coloration: Adults are typically green or brown with distinctive tiger-like stripes on their elytra (wing covers), giving them their common name.

• Larvae: Dark-colored and covered in spines.

---

Habitat and Diet

Paropsisterna tigrina primarily feeds on plants in the Myrtaceae family, including various species of eucalyptus, as well as Melaleuca alternifolia (Australian tea tree) . Their feeding can lead to defoliation of young trees, potentially stunting growth and reducing vigor.

---

Chemical Ecology

The beetle's frass (feces) has been found to contain volatile oils almost identical to the essential oils of the ingested leaves, such as 1,8-cineole, indicating a metabolic processing of the plant's chemical compounds . Additionally, Paropsisterna tigrina has been proposed as a biological control agent for the invasive Australian paperbark tree.

 

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.^[2]

The genus was described by Victor Motschulsky in 1860.^[3][4]

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.^[1]

Some species are very colourful, but their colours may fade after death.^[5]

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.^[1]

• Paropsisterna agricola a pest on Eucalyptus globulus, E. delegatensis and E. dalrympleana^[6][7]
• Paropsisterna bimaculata a pest on Eucalyptus regnans, E. obliqua and E. delegatensis^[6]
• Paropsisterna m-fuscum a pest on Eucalyptus globulus^[2][7]
• Paropsisterna obovata a pest on Eucalyptus in South Australia^[8]
• Paropsisterna selmani a pest on Eucalyptus in Tasmania, introduced to the Republic of Ireland^[9] and the United Kingdom.^[2][10]
• Paropsisterna tigrina proposed as a biological control agent of the invasive Australian Paperbark Tree Melaleuca quinquenervia in Florida.^[11]
• Paropsisterna variicollis a pest on Eucalyptus globulus^[7]

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).^[1]

• 
  Paropsisterna crocata
 
• 
  Paropsisterna decolorata
 
• 
  Paropsisterna erudita
 
• 
  Paropsisterna intacta
 
• 
  Paropsisterna liturata
 
• 
  Paropsisterna morio
 
• 
  Paropsisterna nigerrima alternata
 
• 
  Paropsisterna pictipes
 
• 
  Paropsisterna remota
 
• 
  Paropsisterna stygia trivittata
 
• 
  Paropsisterna variicollis

• Image gallery of Paropsisterna