Anoplognathus pallidicollis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Anoplognathus pallidicollis |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Scientific classification |
The Anoplognathus pallidicollis is a cool beetle from Australia. It's often called a Christmas beetle because it used to be very common around Christmas time. This beetle can live for about two years. It grows up to 20 millimeters long, which is about the size of a small coin. It belongs to the Scarabaeidae family, which includes many types of scarab beetles.
These beetles have shiny, rich brown wing covers, called elytra. Their head also has a special part called a clypeus, which is also brown. Their legs have claws and many small barbs, helping them grip things. Like other Anoplognathus beetles, their front legs are different lengths. This might help them hold onto thin Eucalyptus leaves.
Christmas beetles are active at night, which means they are nocturnal. They are often drawn to bright lights. You might see them flying around outdoor lights or even crawling into houses. Research shows they are busiest around sunset and for a few hours afterward. Sadly, their numbers seem to be going down. This is probably because their homes, or habitats, are being lost.
Contents
Life Cycle of the Christmas Beetle
.jpg)
The life of a Christmas beetle starts underground. Young beetles, called larvae, live in the soil. They munch on plant roots and dead plant material. They usually eat the roots of native grasses. But they can also eat the roots of farm crops, lawns, and pasture grass.
If many larvae are in one area, the grass above can look sick. It might turn yellow and wither. This is a common reason for dead or yellow spots in Australian lawns.
From Larva to Adult Beetle
When late winter or early spring arrives, the larvae move closer to the soil surface. Here, they change into a pupa. This is a resting stage, like a cocoon for a butterfly. After several weeks, the adult beetles are ready to come out.
They wait for rain to make the soil soft. This lets them dig their way out easily. Big spring thunderstorms can make many beetles emerge at once. But if it stays dry for too long, beetles can get stuck underground. They might even die before they can come out.
Adult Life and Habits
Once they emerge, adult beetles fly to nearby plants. They need to find food and a mate. They really like to eat Eucalyptus leaves. If many beetles emerge together, they can eat a lot of leaves. This can cause trees to lose many of their leaves.
After mating, the female beetles go back into the soil. They lay their eggs there, starting the cycle all over again. Adult Christmas beetles stay active for a long time. You can often see them throughout the entire southern summer.
Images for kids
-
Anoplognathus pallidicollis to MV light
-
Anoplognathus pallidicollis, photo by Donald Hobern
.jpg)
.jpg)
See also
- Anoplognathus viridiaeneus (King Christmas beetle)
