Beetle fact sheet | Field of Mars EEC

What are beetles?

Beetles are insects in the order Coleoptera. Like other insects, they have a head, thorax and abdomen, six legs and antennae. What makes beetles different is their hardened front wings, called elytra, which protect the softer flying wings underneath. These tough wing cases help beetles survive in rough places such as leaf litter, soil, bark and rotting wood.

Beetles are insects with hardened front wings called elytra.

Jewel beetles are often seen in Sydney bushland and woodland habitats.

Where do beetles live?

Beetles live in almost every kind of habitat. Some live in flowers, on leaves or under bark. Others live in soil, rotting logs, leaf litter or even water. Field of Mars Reserve contains eucalypt forest and other bushland habitats with around 300 plant species, so it provides food and shelter for many beetles and their larvae. Longicorn beetles are found in bushland and garden habitats.

What do beetles eat?

Beetles use chewing mouthparts, but their diets vary a lot. Some feed on eucalyptus leaves, grass roots or wood. Others eat nectar, fungi, fruit, dead plant material or smaller invertebrates. At Field of Mars, flowering plants, eucalypts, bark, logs and leaf litter can all provide beetle food.

Flower chafer beetles visit flowers to feed.

A soldier beetle visits flowers to feed on pollen and nectar.

What is the life cycle of a beetle?

A beetle begins life as an egg. The egg hatches into a larva, often called a grub. The larva feeds and grows before changing into a pupa. Later, the adult beetle emerges. Many beetle larvae live hidden underground, inside rotting wood, under bark or in plant stems, which helps protect them while they grow.

A two-spotted lady beetle beside a cluster of eggs.

Leaf-feeding beetle larvae chew leaves as they grow.

A darkling beetle larva has a long, tough body that helps it move through soil, leaf litter or stored plant material.

A lady beetle larva catches and eats an aphid.

Christmas beetles

Christmas beetles are scarab beetles in the genus Anoplognathus. About 36 species are recognised, 21 occur in New South Wales and at least 10 occur in the Sydney region. Adults usually appear close to Christmas, often with shiny green, bronze or gold colours. They live in forests and woodlands. Adults feed on eucalyptus leaves, while the white, C-shaped larvae feed on grass roots. The Australian Museum notes that reported numbers in the Sydney area have declined over recent decades as grassy woodland has been lost to housing.

Christmas beetles often appear in early summer and feed on eucalyptus leaves.

What are curl grubs?

Curl grubs are the larvae of scarab beetles. They are usually white, plump and C-shaped, with a brown head and six legs near the front of the body. Some curl grubs feed on roots, especially grass roots, but others live in rotting wood, mulch or compost where they help break down material. Because they can be hard to identify, the best guide is the health of the plant they are found near.

A curl grub is the larva of a scarab beetle.

What adaptations do beetles have to help them survive?

Beetles have several adaptations that help them survive. Their elytra protect the body and delicate flying wings and help reduce water loss. Different beetles have legs adapted for walking, burrowing, tunnelling, swimming or jumping. Some species use camouflage, while others are metallic or brightly coloured. Many also produce chemicals that help protect them from predators. A rove beetle’s short wing covers and flexible body help it move quickly through leaf litter, bark and other tight spaces.

Why are beetles important?

Beetles help ecosystems in many ways. Flower-feeding species, such as flower chafers and jewel beetles, regularly visit blossoms and may help move pollen between flowers. Larvae and adults that feed on rotting wood, compost or dead material help recycle nutrients. Scarab larvae can also help aerate soil, and they are important food for birds and other wildlife. Jewel beetles may move pollen between flowers while feeding.

How can you help beetles?

You can help beetles by protecting bushland, planting local native flowers and trees, and leaving some leaf litter, bark and fallen wood where it is safe to do so. Avoid unnecessary insecticide use. If you find curl grubs in mulch, compost or healthy garden soil, do not automatically kill them. Some are native scarab larvae that help break down material and support soil health. Eucalyptus leaf beetles depend on healthy eucalypt leaves for food and shelter.

Related fact sheets

More invertebrate fact sheets

• Invertebrate fact sheets – overview
• Insects fact sheet – beetles are insects with the same basic insect body plan.
• Lady beetle fact sheet – another beetle group common in gardens and bushland
• Moth fact sheet – another insect group with complete metamorphosis

Habitats and ecosystems

• Tree habitats fact sheet – bark, leaves, flowers and hollows provide beetle habitat

• Shrub habitats fact sheet – shrubs provide food and shelter for many beetles.

• Rock and log habitats fact sheet – fallen logs and rotting wood shelter beetles and grubs

• Eucalypt forest fact sheet– many local beetles depend on eucalypts and woodland habitat

• Field of Mars Reserve fact sheet – explains the reserve habitats that likely support these beetles

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