Summer is a great time to go beetle-watching in Australia. While beetles can be found all year round, many species are more visible and numerous when the weather heats up. Beetles come in a brilliant range of colours, patterns and textures – even metallic – which makes them especially fun to spot.
From Australia boasts some of the world’s most stunning beetles. Look out for these 5 beauties this summer by Tanya Latty and James Bickerstaff, The Conversation
Can you spot all five of those beetle species locally?
For bonus points, consider adding your beetle observations to iNaturalist Australia or NatureMapr, so your observations can inform others and biodiversity research, too.
The Christmas Beetle Count citizen science project includes beetle photography and ID tips, as well as how to add your observation to iNaturalist – even if you aren’t sure which beetle you’ve spied. Check it out at invertebratesaustralia.org/christmas-beetles.
And if you’d like to help beetles out at your place (looking at you Gardens 4 Wildlife Albury Wodonga fans!), check out the tips in the 1-minute video below, also by Invertebrates Australia, from their Facebook page.
