Christmas beetles Anoplognathus spp are a group of iconic Australian insects that emerge in early spring and are associated with Christmas. In the past, millions of these large, colourful beetles used to fly around in December and January.
You can become a citizen scientist and help us track Australia’s Christmas beetle population! Beetles start emerging in November and will continue to fly until late January. If you see a suspected Christmas beetle, take a photo and upload to iNaturalist.
Christmas Beetles have vibrant colours and the adults emerge close to the Christmas period. Christmas Beetles come from surrounding bush and feed on eucalyptus leaves. The larvae are white and C-shaped, similar to those of flower chafers and stag beetles and feed on grass roots.
Tips for identifying Christmas Beetle can be found on the Australian Museum website. You can also download the Xmas Beetles ID Guide mobile app.
