Christmas Beetle!

Photo courtesy of brisbaneinsects.com

I came across this beetle and thought I'd share.  It is the Anoplognathus species of beetle from the Scarabaeidae family.  These beetles are native to Australia and are common around Christmas time, giving them the common name, Christmas beetle.  There are about 35 species of Christmas beetles, ranging in size from 20-30mm.  They come in a variety of colors, including brown, green, yellow, and pink, and they are often metallic or iridescent.  The legs of Christmas beetles are clawed and covered in barbs.


Photo credit: Cyron Ray Macey from Brisbane, Australia; wikipedia.org

Larvae live underground and feed on plant roots and decaying vegetation.  In late winter or early spring, larvae move closer to the soil surface and pupate.  After several weeks, adults emerge.  They wait for rain to soften the soil, then burrow their way out.  Adults fly to a nearby plant source to feed and mate.  Eucalyptus leaves are one of their favorites, and swarms can defoliate whole trees in a few days.  Waves of emergence can occur from late November through February, Australia's summer season.