Washerwoman (Anoplognathus porosus)

Anoplognathus spAnoplognathus macleayi (Christmas Beetle) Anoplognathus porosus Washerwoman (Anoplognathus porosus)

Christmas Beetles are a type of scarab (a group that includes dung beetles and chafers). Compared to other scarabs, Christmas Beetles (genus Anoplognathus) are large and chunky, somewhat flattened in shape and with metallic brown, yellow or pink colours.

Source: Australian Museum²

Anoplognathus porosus, common name is Washerwoman. The species name porosus means “with holes”, and refer to the distinctive deep pigmented punctures on the elytra. They are also described as a Christmas Beetle or Common Christmas Beetle, sometimes seen in huge numbers (hanging out together) feeding on Eucalypt trees over the Christmas period. Whilst it has also been described as a Cetonid Beetle, this is not correct, as the Cetonia is a genus in the subfamily Cetoniinae, where as Anoplognathus porosus is in the subfamily Rutelinae (a group collectively known as Shining Leaf Chafers).

Anoplognathus porosus is similar to the species Anoplognathus olivieri, the difference being the female Anoplognathus porosus lack the lateral elytral expansion and the pygidium is bronze-green, with a border of recumbent white setae.

Some of the specimens found around Canberra are dark brown in appearance.

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• 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 porosus

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Coleoptera | Coleoptera Index | Christmas Beetles | Christmas Beetles (Anoplognathus) | Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus brunnipennis) | Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus macleayi) | 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