There a select group of creatures that synonymous with Christmas - donkeys, reindeer, turkeys and robins. The image of a beetle does not to mind when thinking of the festive season. However, there is actually a Christmas beetle, but this Christmas it has missing. Australia's Christmas beetle used to be an indication that the holiday season on its way in the land down under. Its numbers have alarmingly. Dr Tanya Latty, an entomologist from the University of Sydney, said: "Everybody over the age of 35 there being huge numbers of Christmas beetles when they kids, but that just doesn't to any more."
The Christmas beetle is as unique to Australia as koalas and kangaroos. It is a colourful, shiny and harmless bug. Dr Latty the BBC: "We in Australia this really unique biological event where Christmas is with the arrival of these beautiful, glittery, friendly beetles." She said it was "absolutely critical" to out why there are so few around. Scientists that their dwindling numbers are due to habitat loss. In 2020, bushfires out huge swathes of forest that home to the beetles. Australia the worst rate of mammal extinction in the world. Scientists the Christmas beetle may also soon out. They asked people to send them photos if they see the beetle.
