Paropsisterna

Length: Body semicircular to elongate-ovate, (length to width ratio ranges from 1.2:1 to 1.6:1) and moderately to strongly convex (length to height ratio ranges from 2:1 to 3.5:1). Head: Not contracted behind eyes; eyes not laterally prominent; frons without vertical groove beside inner margin of eye; frontoclypeal suture rounded or V shaped; first segment of maxillary palp ventrally convex , without sharp leading edge; apical segment of maxillary palp strongly expanded from base to truncate apex; apical margin of mentum truncate or shallowly concave . Thorax: Pronotum broadest at base; anterior trichobothrium absent; posterior trichobothrium absent; pronotal disc apparently impunctate, or punctate, sides more strongly so, with or without punctate depressions on each side; base of pronotum not marginate ; hypomeral groove absent; anterior of prosternum with 0, 1 or 2 longitudinal ridges at middle, without lateral ridges, middle anteriorly produced or not; prosternal process quadrate to elongate, with angled lobes absent; procoxal cavity open, gap at least half the width of procoxa ; elytra without tubercules absent; elytral striae present or absent, 5th stria not relatively deep at base; elytra extended vertically, epipleura concealed from lateral view; base of elytra overlapping basal angles of pronotum; epipleura narrow or broad, but not more than 0.3 times width of elytron, apical half of epipleura with (rarely) or without line of setae ; anterior face of mesoventrite process straight to slightly concave, posterior margin straight to strongly concave; metaventrite femoral plates absent; metaventrite process not raised anteriorly; apices of mid and hind tibiae without row of short spines on distal surface; mid and hind tibiae with at least one sharp external longitudinal keel; apex of third tarsal segment not or feebly bilobed ; claws acutely toothed or simple ( P. interrupta ). Abdomen: Pygidial groove absent; abdominal ventrites usually without large setiferous punctures, rarely present; apex of last ventrite rounded in both sexes, or truncate in male. The genus Paropsisterna Motschulsky is present in New Guinea and Australia, which has the vast majority of species (about 110) (Reid 2004). In Australia, the genus is found wherever there are eucalypts and less commonly in other situations. Species of Paropsisterna primarily feed on eucalypts. Some species are plantation pests, including P. bimaculata (Olivier). This species is economically important in Tasmania but not in New South Wales. Many species of Paropsisterna lay eggs in unusual arrangements and have variously patterned larvae which may be identifiable in the field. The larvae are elongate, with paired subapical eversible glands. The genus Paropsisterna has been recently expanded to incorporate Chrysophtharta Weise (Reid 2004).