All are attracted to bright lights at night. In the home garden, Christmas beetles are seldom a problem. In fact, they are usually controlled naturally by native animals such as possums, currawongs, magpies and predatory wasps. However, if they do reach plague proportions they can have a big impact on even healthy trees. Colonies can be disrupted with jets of water. When disturbed during the day adults drop straight to the ground, so laying plastic sheets underneath heavily infested trees and then shaking the tree or disturbing the beetles with jets of water will cause them to drop onto the plastic.
They can then be collected and destroyed. Spraying is not recommended as it is difficult to apply chemicals to large trees and the beetles move when disturbed. Christmas beetles are an ideal insect to introduce to children as they are quite placid especially after a big night out. It is a name commonly given to the Australian beetle, genus Anoplognathus. They are known as Christmas beetles because they are abundant in urban areas close to Christmas. Christmas beetles are relatively large beetles which grow to around 20 millimetres in length and can be present in large numbers throughout the summer months.
There are 35 species of Christmas beetles right across Australia, but most prefer the moister east and south easterly areas, especially near the coast. Many are glossy or brightly coloured and are often attracted to lights at night around Christmas time. Skip to main content Skip to acknowledgement of country Skip to footer King Beetle left and two unnamed Christmas beetles L-r: Anoplognathus viridiaeneus, Anoplognathus hirsutus and Anoplognathus brunnipennis.
Introduction There are about 35 species of Christmas beetles family Scarabaeidae , eight of which occur in Sydney. Identification Christmas beetles have vibrant colours and the adults emerge close to the Christmas period.
Habitat Christmas beetles are found in forests and woodlands. Distribution Christmas beetles are found in southern and eastern Australia. Feeding and diet Christmas beetles come into Sydney from surrounding woodland where the adults feed on eucalyptus leaves and the larvae feed on grass roots. Conservation status The total number of Christmas beetles reported in the Sydney area has declined over the last 30 years as the grassy woodland areas get used up for housing.
Severely damaged turf patches can be rolled back like a carpet because Scarab Beetle larvae have nipped off all the roots. How to Prevent Scarab Beetles Appearing Monitor Be extra vigilant if there are many adult beetles drawn to lights at night.
Watch for Scarab Beetle larvae while digging in the garden. Check for Scarab Beetle larvae when re-potting plants. Watch for brown patches appearing in lawns.
Check lawns if large birds like magpies are pecking at the ground. Prevent Throw any Scarab Beetle larvae you find while digging in the garden onto the lawn for visiting birds, or your chooks, to feed on. This breaks the life cycle, preventing the next generation of egg laying beetles from emerging. Prevent Rhinoceros Beetles breeding in your compost by covering it with a tarp, or using a sealed bin. Hose Christmas Beetles off small eucalypts with a strong jet of water to encourage them to move elsewhere.
A healthy lawn can recover easily from mild pest infestations. Help your lawn recover by watering and feeding appropriately. Natural enemies Parasitic wasps such as female flower wasps Scoliidae and Tiphiidae burrow underground looking for Scarab Beetle larvae to lay their eggs in. Large colourful tachinid flies of the genus Rutilia are parasites of Scarab Beetle larvae.
Large species of robber flies Asilidae are predators of many insects including beetles as large as Christmas Beetles. Currawongs and magpies along with ibis and other birds. Unfortunately their pecking may cause some lawn damage. The lawn will recover if appropriately fed and watered. Treat lawn with beneficial nematodes. Nematodes are roundworms which live in soil and kill Scarab Beetle larvae by penetrating their bodies and breeding inside them.
Beneficial nematodes are available commercially for some Scarab Beetle pests and can simply be watered into the lawn. More Articles.
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