Scarabaeidae (family)

Scarab beetle, curl grub at Pambula Preschool

Request use of media

Identification history

Unidentified

6 Sep 2019

elizabethgleeson

Identify this sighting

Please Login or Register to identify this sighting.

User's notes

We think this a witchety grub - any more information would be great Thanks

4 comments

KerriLee wrote:

7 Sep 2019

It is indeed a beetle grub, and often called a 'curl grub' because of the shape they adopt. It is some kind of scarab beetle ... perhaps even a 'Christmas Beetle' such as these ones:
https://atlasoflife.naturemapr.org/Community/Species/Sightings/21092

KerriLee wrote:

7 Sep 2019

I'm guessing that you found it in soil, perhaps even in compost (?) These grubs create a small chamber for themselves in the soil and feed on roots or other plant material.

KerriLee wrote:

7 Sep 2019

However, it's not a witchetty grub. That's a name used for various types of large, wood-eating larvae such as cossid moths, ghost moths or even longicorn beetles.

elizabethgleeson wrote:

20 Sep 2019

This was really interesting to the children. Yes, some of the boys did find this in the soil. There was lots of discussion about other moths and beetles the children are familiar with, and a deal of excitement that it may be a Christmas beetle!

Please Login or Register to comment.