RE:Dung beetles and defoliation

From: Sharon Roberts Date:  12/01/2009

Hi Greg, Congratulations on your colony of winter active beetles and welcome to the forum. Dung beetles don't defoliate eucalyptus trees as their only food is manure. The adult beetles can't actually chew anything - they don't have chewing mouth parts and are limited to sucking juice from dung. They dwell in and around dung pads, and take to the air in search of fresh dung pads. The beetle you are describing is most likely the Christmas Beetle, which is a shiny yellowy-orange colour and about an inch long. Cheers, Sharon Roberts Lucyvale Better Beef Group Committee