Coleoptera | Coleoptera Index | Christmas Beetles | Christmas Beetles (Anoplognathus) | Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus brunnipennis) | Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus macleayi) | Christmas Beetles (Diphucephala) | Lamprima aurata
The common name of ‘Christmas Beetle’, often refers to a range of brightly coloured insects (beetles) that vary in colour such as gold, shades of green, blue, purple, red to brown and black. All have that metallic appearance, glossy sheen, that make them glint in sunlight, like Christmas tinsels and baubles. These particular shiny beetles or bug are usually seen flying around in December, often en masse.
The Christmas Beetles is a common name applied to several species of beetles, across a number of family / genus / species such as family Lucanidae and Scarabaeidae and a number of species in the genus Anoplognathus. Each species of Christmas beetle will have own unique scientific name — binomial nomenclature (species binomial). Some species in the Christmas beetle group include Anoplognathus suturalis, Diphucephala colaspidoides and Lamprima aurata.
Many insects (beetles/bugs) that are referred to as Christmas Beetles, most likely will have other common names such as Stag Beetle, Golden Stag Beetle or Scarab Beetle.
Scutiphora pedicellata, is known as the Green Jewel Bug, and whilst it is also grouped as a Christmas Beetle, it is not a beetle, it is a bug (in simple terms, bugs are a group of insects characterised by their sucking mouth parts, unlike beetles with their chewing mouthparts).
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborders:
- Adephaga
- Archostemata
- Myxophaga
- Polyphaga
- Family:
- Apionidae
- Brachyceridae
- Cetoniidae
Footnote & References
- Many thanks for ID to Kimberi Pullen and Allen Sundholm members of Australasian Beetles Only, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1180404322409639/
- Many thanks for ID to Oskars Štubis, member of Australasian Beetles Only, https://www.facebook.com/groups/1180404322409639/
- Lamprima aurata, Brisbane QLD © Hongming Kan
- Christmas Beetles (Genus Anoplognathus), debtaylor142, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/134492956
- Emerald Tip Beetle (Anoplognathus brunnipennis), tjeales, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/253983422
- Emerald Tip Beetle (Anoplognathus brunnipennis), debtaylor142, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/134494001
- Lamprima aurata, Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Coleoptera | Coleoptera Index | Christmas Beetles | Christmas Beetles (Anoplognathus) | Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus brunnipennis) | Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus macleayi) | Christmas Beetles (Diphucephala) | Lamprima aurata
ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Anoplognathus macleayi (Christmas Beetle) Anoplognathus porosus Washerwoman (Anoplognathus porosus) Aphanestes gymnopleura Blackburnium cavicolle Buprestidae More Buprestidae Buprestidae Index Jewel Beetles Astraeus Bubastes pilbarensis Calodema plebeia Calotemognatha Castiarina Cyrioides Diadoxus Hypocisseis suturalis Diphucrania Julodimorpha saundersii Melobasis Merimna atrata Metaxymorpha grayii Metaxymorpha gloriosa Stigmodera Temognatha Torresita cuprifera Carphurus Carphurus Index Carphurus cyaneipennis Carphurus fasciculatus Carphurus frenchi Carphurus longicollis Carphurus pravus Cerambycidae Longhorn Beetles Index Chlorophorus curtisi Didymocantha obliqua Pachydissus sp Rhytiphora Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Christmas Beetles Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus brunnipennis) Christmas Beetles (Anoplognathus) Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus macleayi) Christmas Beetles (Diphucephala) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Chrysomelidae Index Johannica gemellata (Pandorea Leaf Beetle) Pittosporum Leaf Beetle (Lamprolina impressicollis) Platymela hasenpuschi Spilopyra sumptuosa (Rainbow Leaf Beetle) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Chrysolopus spectabilis (Botany Bay Diamond Weevil) Lixus Perperus lateralis (White-striped Weevil) Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Australoneda bourgeoisi Coccinella transversalis Cryptolaemus montrouzieri Harmonia conformis Olla v-nigrum Orcus australasiae Lepidiota Lucanidae Lucanidae Index Lamprima aurata Lissapterus obesus Prosopocoilus torresensis Lycidae Mordellidae (Pintail Beetles) Hoshihananomia leucosticte Mordella australis Neospades sp Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsis maculata Paropsis porosa Paropsis sospita Paropsisterna sp Paropsisterna Index Paropsisterna beata Paropsisterna fastidiosa Paropsisterna m-fuscum Paropsisterna pictipes Paropsisterna sexpustulata Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhinotia haemoptera Rhipiceridae Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera carinata) Feather-horned Beetle (Rhipicera femorata) Scarabaeidae Scarabaeidae Index Bisallardiana Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles) Schizognathus compressicornis 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