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Abstract

The leaf beetle sub-family Chrysomelinae contains a number
of species that are prominent defoliators of Eucalyptus
(sensu lat:o) spp. and Acacia spp. in Tasmania, especially the
Tasmanian Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle, Paropsisterna bimaculata
(Olivier, 1807), the Southern Eucalyptus Leaf Beetle,
P. agricola (Chapuis, 1877) and the Fireblight Beetle,
Peltoscherna orphana (Erichson, 1842). Daccordi & de Little
(2003) provided a key to adults of the Tasmanian genera
of Chrysomelinae, based on the key of Matthews & Reid
(2002) for South Australian genera, but overlooked the
genera Eugastromela Lea, 1929 and Chalcomela Baly, 1856.
Reid (200 6) revised the Australian genera of Chrysomelinae,
providing detailed generic descriptions and including
genera with species successfully introduced into Australia
as biological control agents. The most significant impact
of this work in relation to the Chrysomelinae of Tasmania
is the synonymy of the economically important genus
Chrysophtharta Weise, 1901 with Paropsisterna Motschulsky,
1860 (senior synonym).
The current paper revises the generic key in Daccordi
& de Little (2003) in line with Reid's (2006) revision and
includes the two overlooked genera. Notes are provided on
the currently recognised Tasmanian genera of Chrysomelinae,
and, where known, their host-plants. Chrysolina spp.
introduced into Tasmania as biological control agents
against Boneseed, Chrysanthemoides monilifera (L.) T. Norl.,
are not considered at the current time to have successfully
established (Ireson 2002), and this genus is therefore not
included in the key.

Item Type:	Article
Authors/Creators:	de Little, D
Keywords:	Royal Society of Tasmania, RST, Van Diemans Land, natural history, science, ecology, taxonomy, botany, zoology
Journal or Publication Title:	Papers and Proceedings of the Royal Society of Tasmania
ISSN:	0080-4703
Item Statistics:	View statistics for this item

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