Welcome to the Collectanea of Oddities! Here we find the strange, peculiar, and unprecedented of South-East Queensland and beyond, and enter it into the collectanea alongside a eurythmic piece of Australian literature. From mundane to extraordinary, if it’s odd, it will be here.
Synposis:
When did you last see a Christmas Beetle? It very well could have been a long time, or maybe you’ve already seen plenty this year. Something peculiar is happening, and no one is quite sure what. From scientific confusion to selective gumtree breeding, this entry into the collectanea is an insectoid adventure to find out what’s happening to the Christmas Beetle.
Tonight's Text:
The Christmas Beetle, By Leon Gellert
iNaturalist Christmas Beetle Count:
https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/christmas-beetle-count
Works Cited:
Australian Museum. (2024, October 7). Christmas Beetle. Retrieved from Australian Museum: https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/christmas-beetle/
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry. (2024). Eucalypt Forest. Retrieved from Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry: https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/forestsaustralia/australias-forests/profiles/eucalypt-2019
Ennion, J. (2016, November 21). Where have all the Christmas Beetles gone? Retrieved from Australian Geographic: https://www.australiangeographic.com.au/nature-wildlife/2016/11/australias-christmas-beetles/
Fensham, R. J., Laffineur, B., Collingwood, T. D., Beech, E., Bell, S., Hopper, S. D., . . . White, M. (2020). Rarity or decline: Key concepts for the Red List of Australian eucalypts. Biological Conservation, 243.
Latty, T., Reid, C., Koch, H., & Mesaglio, T. (2023, December 12). People worry Christmas Beetles are disappearing. We’re gathering citizen data to see the full picture. Retrieved from CSIRO: https://www.csiro.au/en/news/all/articles/2023/december/christmas-beetles
Lee, D. J., Brawner, J. T., Smith, T. E., Hogg, B. W., Meder, R., & Osborne, D. O. (2011). Productivity of plantation hardwood tree species in north-eastern Australia: A report from the Forest Adaptation and Sequestration Alliance. Australian Government, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Martin, S. K. (2023, October 11). South American jacaranda a symbol of our spring. Retrieved from La Trobe University: https://www.latrobe.edu.au/news/articles/2023/opinion/south-american-jacaranda-a-symbol-of-our-spring
Matusick, G., & Fontaine, J. (2020, March 16). Causes of large-scale eucalyptus tree dieback and mortality: research priorities. Retrieved from Natural Resources Comission of NSW: https://www.nrc.nsw.gov.au/ET%20-%20Forest%20dieback%20-%20Research%20priorities%20-%20Murdoch%20University.pdf?downloadable=1
National Museum Australia. (2022, September 19). Arrival of the dingo. Retrieved from National Museum Australia: https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/arrival-of-the-dingo
Ponnamperuma, S. (2025, June 18). Introduced Animals in Australia. Retrieved from Trishan's OZ: https://trishansoz.com/trishansoz/animals/australia-introduced-animals.html
Queensland Government. (2023, September 29). Christmas Beetle. Retrieved from Business Queensland: https://www.business.qld.gov.au/industries/farms-fishing-forestry/forests-wood/pests-diseases/trees-timber/christmas-beetle