Christmas Beetle

Photo(s): 
Christmas Beetle

Christmas Beetle

Anoplognathus sp.

Adults are most abundant during midsummer, although adults can be seen from November to February. They feed on the leaves of eucalypts and can defoliate trees. They are attracted to lights. The larvae are white grubs which live in soil and feed on plant roots. Their large, moveable tarsal (foot) claws most likely help them to hang onto the thin leaves of eucalypt trees. Large numbers may emerge at the same time after spring thunderstorms have softened the soil.

Details Description
Type
Invertebrate
Group
Insect - Beetle
Identifying Characteristics

Oval body shape, shiny and pale brown with gold highlights. Antennae club-shaped at the tips. One large claw and one small claw on the feet. Up to 3 cm long. Christmas beetle larvae have a distinctive 'C' shape and are sometimes called curl grubs.
Distinctive Markings

Shiny oval body, small clubbed antennae and spiky legs.
Diet

Herbivore. The adults eat eucalypt leaves. The larvae feed underground on organic matter such as roots of native grasses and lawns, but also eat roots of crop species in agricultural areas.
Habitat

Lives in dry schlerophyll (eucalypt) forests, agricultural areas and urban gardens. Larvae live in soil.
Native Status
Native to Australia
Taxonomy
Phylum
Arthropoda
Class
Insecta
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Scarabaeidae
Genus
Anoplognathus
Species
sp.
Christmas Beetle
Found in southern and eastern Australia, including throughout Victoria.

Distribution maps indicate current and historic locations where species have been sighted.

Source: Atlas of Living Australia

Conservation Status
DEPI Advisory List
Not listed
FFG Act
Not listed
EPBC Act
Not listed

The conservation status of species is listed within Victoria and Australia.

The Department of Environment and Primary Industry (DEPI) Advisory List consists of non-statutory advisory lists of rare or threatened flora and fauna within Victoria.

The Flora and Fauna Guarantee Act 1988 (FFG Act) lists threatened species in Victoria. Under the Act, an Action Statement is produced for each listed species.

The Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 (EPBC Act) is the Australian Government’s key piece of environmental legislation, listing nationally threatened native species and ecological communities.