Christmas beetle

Christmas Beetle illustration by Madeline Nave

The genus contains 36 species spread across the country, with the highest density found in the temperate forests of New South Wales. Once upon a time Christmas Beetles emerged in their billions, with stories of large branches snapping off from the weight of clustered beetles. Due to rampant urbanisation, land clearing and a prolonged drought, Christmas Beetles have declined in numbers and it is becoming more uncommon to find swarms of them in urban areas. The adult beetles feed on eucalyptus…

For many Australians christmas beetles are a happy sign of the start of the silly season – but are their numbers dwindling?

This beetle is is the second largest family of beetles, the Scarabaeidae Family. An interesting feature of these beetles apart from their beautiful colours is their large tarsal claws which are unequal in length and movable enabling them to grasp hold of branches and climb. Christmas Beetles are numerous around Christmas time hence their common name.

There are about 36 species of Christmas Beetles (family Scarabaeidae), ten of which occur in Sydney.

Discover Christmas Beetles factsheets and learn how to identify them, with 35 species of Christmas Beetles across Australia and 21 of them found in New South Wales.

You might have expected these ten animals to look more festive than they are, but not all of them are the colours you would expect.

Lucanidae Compilation of 24 images, combined in Zerene Stacker. Shot with Canon 5d ii, 100mm, f/5.6, 1/200. Photograph by Christopher C. Grinter, 2014