It’s Christmas time and you know what that means? Christmas beetles! Or does it?

I grew up to the sound of golden-hued insects thwacking against the screen door, one after the other. They’d fall to the ground, spin around on their backs for a bit, while I watched on, too afraid of their spiky clawed feet to help, before they righted themselves, unfolded their wings and flew off only to repeat the cycle again.

Anecdotally, they just don’t seem to be around that much anymore. 

But it turns out there are signs that we’re actually in for a bumper season for these iconic insects. To confirm this and to pinpoint reasons for any ongoing population decline, scientists need data and the Christmas Beetle Count is back for another year. 

Invertebrates Australia and the University of Sydney’s Associate Professor Tanya Latty are looking to citizen scientists for help and here is where you come in. 

If you see what you think is a Christmas beetle (don’t worry if you’re not 100% sure, there are over 35 native species and many look similar to other beetle species), grab your phone and snap some photos. To help with identification, the team are asking for four photos: one of the top of the beetle, its underside, front on and one from the back. Again, this is a no stress project so even if you can only snap one photo, still upload it. All data helps.

Now, if you’re like me, even thinking about these beautiful bauble-like beetles will have memories bubbling up to the surface. Associate Professor Latty is asking not just for current sightings but also for memories and stories for the Christmas Beetle Memories project.

To add this season’s Christmas beetle sighting to the project, head to iNaturalist, the Christmas Beetle Count.

To learn more about the project and to watch videos to help with identification head to the Invertebrates Australia site.

To share your stories of Christmas beetles past, you can fill out the university’s survey here.