Christmas beetles
Anoplognathus chloropyrus
Description
adult beetles are large, about 25-30 mm long; yellow-brown to red-brown and shiny
Anoplognathus chloropyrus has an iridescent, green posterior extending beyond the wing covers and faint black lines on the wing covers
Anoplognathus porosus and A. boisduvali have black spots (A. porosus) or lines (A. boisduvali) on the wing cases but no obvious green posterior
several species can be present in plantations at the same time.
Damage
larvae feed on grass roots and adults emerge from the soil in summer to feed on eucalypt leaves
beetles feed in swarms, causing extensive damage to young plantations, especially if close to pastures
feeding damage is visible as jagged, ripped leaves on mature leaves; they also feed on immature leaves.