Disappearing fast.
Thanks to my brother-in-law Mark W for this shot of an iconic Christmas beetle which has almost died out in Australian suburbs. He has recently moved to a rural property in the Brisbane (River) Valley north-east of the city and has reported seeing many of the beetles, thankfully! We haven't seen any in years and we miss the classic smell that heralded the oncoming Christmas season and their special look and little sounds.
Here is a snippet from Google AI that sums the disappearance up followed by a link to an item from the Australian Museum with background to this little special creature and more info on human's impact on its existence.
"Yes, Christmas beetles are widely reported as disappearing or declining, especially in urban areas, with scientists citing habitat loss (eucalypt trees), climate change (droughts), urban sprawl, and insecticides as likely causes, though formal long-term data is lacking, making citizen science projects crucial for tracking them. While some regions still see them, their numbers are significantly lower than in past decades, affecting Australia's iconic native insects".
Why They're Disappearing
Habitat Loss & Urbanisation: The biggest factor is the clearing of native eucalypt forests and woodlands for housing, removing the beetles' food (leaves) and breeding grounds (soil near trees).
Climate Change: Droughts and drier springs can stress eucalypts and affect beetle emergence.
Insecticides: Pesticides used in gardens harm the beetle larvae (curl grubs) in the soil and the adults.
Light Pollution: Bright city lights can disorient and attract them, leading to death.
How We Know (and Don't Know)
Anecdotal Evidence: Many Australians report seeing far fewer beetles than in the past.
Citizen Science: Projects like the CSIRO's Christmas Beetle Count and the iNaturalist app collect sightings to build data.
Lack of Formal Data: No long-term government monitoring exists, making community efforts vital to understand the true extent of the decline.
How to Help
Plant Eucalypts: Plant native trees in your garden.
Avoid Sprays: Don't use chemical sprays on your lawn or plants.
Report Sightings: Use apps like iNaturalist to log any Christmas beetles you see.
Disappearing fast.
Thanks to my brother-in-law Mark W for this shot of an iconic Christmas beetle which has almost died out in Australian suburbs. He has recently moved to a rural property in the Brisbane (River) Valley north-east of the city and has reported seeing many of the beetles, thankfully! We haven't seen any in years and we miss the classic smell that heralded the oncoming Christmas season and their special look and little sounds.
Here is a snippet from Google AI that sums the disappearance up followed by a link to an item from the Australian Museum with background to this little special creature and more info on human's impact on its existence.
"Yes, Christmas beetles are widely reported as disappearing or declining, especially in urban areas, with scientists citing habitat loss (eucalypt trees), climate change (droughts), urban sprawl, and insecticides as likely causes, though formal long-term data is lacking, making citizen science projects crucial for tracking them. While some regions still see them, their numbers are significantly lower than in past decades, affecting Australia's iconic native insects".
Why They're Disappearing
Habitat Loss & Urbanisation: The biggest factor is the clearing of native eucalypt forests and woodlands for housing, removing the beetles' food (leaves) and breeding grounds (soil near trees).
Climate Change: Droughts and drier springs can stress eucalypts and affect beetle emergence.
Insecticides: Pesticides used in gardens harm the beetle larvae (curl grubs) in the soil and the adults.
Light Pollution: Bright city lights can disorient and attract them, leading to death.
How We Know (and Don't Know)
Anecdotal Evidence: Many Australians report seeing far fewer beetles than in the past.
Citizen Science: Projects like the CSIRO's Christmas Beetle Count and the iNaturalist app collect sightings to build data.
Lack of Formal Data: No long-term government monitoring exists, making community efforts vital to understand the true extent of the decline.
How to Help
Plant Eucalypts: Plant native trees in your garden.
Avoid Sprays: Don't use chemical sprays on your lawn or plants.
Report Sightings: Use apps like iNaturalist to log any Christmas beetles you see.