Coleoptera | Coleoptera Index | Christmas Beetles | Christmas Beetles (Anoplognathus) | Christmas Beetles (Anoplognathus brunnipennis) | Christmas Beetle (Anoplognathus macleayi) | Christmas Beetles (Diphucephala) | Lamprima aurata
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 brunnipennis, commonly known as the Christmas Beetle or the Emerald Tip Beetle is a medium to large beetles (20–30 mm long) that are in the genus Anoplognathus, members of the scarab family.
A 2021 review of the species Anoplognathus chloropygus found that the species was misidentified, and made a synonym of Anoplognathus brunnipennis.4
The adult member of the genus Anoplognathus, subfamily Rutelinae are often seen around December and January.
- 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 brunnipennis
Footnote & References
- Anoplognathus brunnipennis, Photographs © Tony Eales
- Christmas Beetles, Australian Museum, https://australian.museum/learn/collections/natural-science/entomology/christmas-beetles/
- Christmas Beetle, Australian Museum, https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/christmas-beetle/
- Anoplognathus brunnipennis (Gyllenhal, 1817), Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/Anoplognathus brunnipennis
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 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