Bug FAQEucalyptus Leaf Beetle
Paropsisterna m-fuscum · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Chrysomelidae
Source: Wikipedia
The beetle is pale with variable brown markings on its wing covers and sometimes bright coloring at the base of the wing covers. It is an invasive species that attacks blue gum trees in California and can become very prolific, causing serious problems for the forestry industry.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
The beetle is found on blue gum trees in California, USA, where it is considered invasive.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Larvae are pale green and feed on the leaves they resemble.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It is native to Australia.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 3 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Hawaii, South Carolina.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How does this beetle affect trees?
It feeds on blue gum leaves and can become abundant enough to damage the trees and harm forestry operations.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does this beetle come from?
It originates from Australia but has become invasive in California, USA.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Chrysomelidae)
Spotted Cucumber BeetleDiabrotica undecimpunctataDamages trees, gardens or crops
Bean WeevilAcanthoscelides obtectusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Cowpea WeevilCallosobruchus maculatusDamages trees, gardens or crops
Swamp Milkweed Leaf BeetleLabidomera clivicollisDamages trees, gardens or crops
Alder Leaf BeetleAgelastica alniDamages trees, gardens or crops
Dogbane Leaf BeetleChrysochus auratusSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paropsisterna_m-fuscum
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.