Anoplognathus spAnoplognathus macleayi (Christmas Beetle) Anoplognathus porosus Washerwoman (Anoplognathus porosus)
The “Christmas Beetle” is a term to describe a group of medium to large beetles (20–30 mm long) that are in the genus Anoplognathus, members of the scarab family. Sometimes Christmas beetle is applied to some beetles in other genera. At the time of writing, there are 36 species of Christmas beetles in the genus Anoplognathus, subfamily Rutelinae, most of which are found only in Australia.
Christmas beetles are noisy and often appear clumsy in flight. The Christmas beetles typically have elytra that are dark to light brown, or green, with some species having a green-yellow iridescence — the elytra is the hardened forewings of beetles that protect the delicate hind wings. The word elytra comes from the Greek word elytron, which means “cover” or “sheath”.
Pictured here is Anoplognathus macleayi, observed in Palm Valley in the Finke Gorge National Park, Central Australia.
The pictured Anoplognathus macleayi beetle is cream with a slight gold colouration. Christmas beetles are quite vibrant in appearance, and depending on the species, may have yellow, golden or a bright metallic green colours.
The species Anoplognathus macleayi are found in parts of Western Australia, South Australia, Central Australia and into the northern parts of the Territory, with some observations in western New South Wales.
Anoplognathus macleayi are relatively large with spiny legs that are used for digging.
These scarab beetles lay the eggs into soil. The hatching larva will feed and grow through the year, pupation will take a few weeks, with the adults emerging in spring to early summer. The adult Christmas beetles tend to feed almost exclusively on eucalyptus leaves.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
- Family: Scarabaeidae
- Subfamily: Rutelinae
- Tribe: Anoplognathini
- Genus: Anoplognathus
- Species: Anoplognathus macleayi
- Subspecies:
- Anoplognathus macleayi aurora
- Anoplognathus macleayi macleayi
Footnote & References
- Anoplognathus macleayi, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/895769-Anoplognathus-macleayi
Coleoptera | Coleoptera Index | Christmas Beetles | Christmas Beetles (Anoplognathus) | Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus brunnipennis) | Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus macleayi)Â | Washerwoman (Anoplognathus porosus) | Christmas Beetles (Diphucephala)
Anoplognathus spAnoplognathus macleayi (Christmas Beetle) Anoplognathus porosus Washerwoman (Anoplognathus porosus)
ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Blackburnium cavicolle Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Christmas Beetles Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Lycidae Mordellidae (Pintail Beetles) Neospades sp Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhinotia haemoptera Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus
InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub