Where have all the beetles gone?
My childhood summer memories are imprinted with images of beetles that resembled Christmas tree decorations, their shiny bronzed shells massed around the light fittings as old St Nick supposedly descended our chimneys.
But these days I see very few Christmas beetles. Is my memory playing tricks or have the numbers drastically reduced?
WHAT ARE CHRISTMAS BEETLES?
In Australia, there are more than 3000 species of beetle in the Scarabaeidae family, which includes curl grubs, dung beetles and cockchafers. Except for roughly half a dozen species, these beetles are 100 per cent beneficial: they make soil!
At worst, they’re of no economic significance (meaning they cause limited damage)
