Christmas Beetle Count's Journal

Hi Everyone,
Here is the link to the webinar about the Christmas Beetle Count project:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqKoWoPX6ws

Cheers!

Hi Everyone,
First, thank you so much for all the support! We've just hit 2000 members which is excellent!

We've recently had two sightings of another 'missing' Christmas beetle (Anoplognathus rhinastus) which hasn't been officially recorded since 1999. We don't yet know how the population is doing, but its great to begin filling in some of the gaps in the official records. Keep up the awesome work team!

Check out the sightings here:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/144293575
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/144292803

Hi Everyone,

First, happy holidays!!

If you would like to learn more about how to identify Christmas beetle species, here are some great resources to get you started.

The Australian museum has a fantastic, easy-to-use app, that can help you figure out which species you are observing. It also includes an anatomical atlas which will help you learn the unfortunately complex language that entomologists use to name insect body parts. It also provides information about where each species is found, as well as info about similar-looking species. It is available for both android and iPhone.

For iOS: https://apps.apple.com/au/app/xmas-beetle-id-guide/id1180442876
For android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=air.XmasBeetleIDGuide&hl=en_AU&gl=US

If you already have some experience identifying insects (or want to do a deep dive), check out this online Lucid key: https://keys.lucidcentral.org/keys/v3/aus_museum/christmas_beetles/key/Christmas%20Beetles%20of%20NSW/Media/Html/key.htm

Lucid keys allow you to systematically select characteristics of your specimen, until you've whittled it down to one or a few candidate species. The key assumes a working knowledge of insect anatomy which may make it difficult for beginners. It does have a glossary of terms that can help you learn the correct anatomical terms.

Happy Beetle-ID'ing!

Cheers
Tanya