Paropsisterna laesa species complex (Laesa leaf beetle)

Comments about Paropsisterna laesa by Martin Lagerway:-

"Paropsisterna laesa is a species complex. I have dissected and determined several different species but only two, so far as I know, are described and named. Currently P. laesa (Germar 1848) refers to one pale insect lacking the transverse saddle. Insects of Tasmania calls it P. detrita (Fabricius, 1775), which might be a senior synomym if it can be determined which beetle Fabricius, (1775) was referring to. The provinence is flakey in my opinion. Fabricius sailed with Cook, one of the earliest scientists in Australia. P. laesa/detrita can be green in Tasmania and NSW but not in Vic (so far). It is the same species as the silver/white one. Specimens with a dark transverse saddle are definately a different, undetermined species. It is called Paropsisterna sp. (“Ch11” of DeLittle 1979). Some Queensland specimens with a sub-apical dot are called P. minerva. This dot appears occasionally on other species. There are several closely related species."