Common Christmas Beetle vs Sand-Loving Hister Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Christmas Beetle | Sand-Loving Hister Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Anoplognathus pallidicollis | Hypocaccus rugifrons |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Histeridae |
| Size | 20-30 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Beaches & Coastal |
| Diet | Root Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Australia | Europe, Mediterranean coasts |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Christmas Beetle
A glossy golden-brown scarab beetle that swarms around lights during the Australian summer. It is the most commonly encountered Christmas beetle species.
Did You Know?
Their emergence in December each year gave them the common name Christmas beetle.
Sand-Loving Hister Beetle
A small, reddish-brown hister beetle found in sandy coastal habitats. It hunts fly larvae in seaweed wrack and stranded carrion.
Did You Know?
It buries itself in sand beneath rotting kelp during the day and emerges at night to hunt fly larvae in the wrack.