Gallery: Christmas beetles are still out there, Bug Lady tells gardeners
Bug Lady Мichelle Gleeson with Nambour Garden Club President Narelle Hyde.
Never fear. Christmas beetles are still out there. And gardeners can help bring them back. Such were the fascinating insights provided by insect expert Michelle Gleeson at a well-attended Nambour Garden Club Friendship Day.
Known as the Bug Lady, Ms Gleeson said habitat loss was one reason the beetles were seen less often, but modern LED and halogen street lights were not attracting them in the same numbers as older lighting did.
She said light trapping near Maroochy River Landcare had attracted about six Christmas beetle species. “They’re there where the habitat is, they’re there,” she said.
Ms Gleeson was the special guest at the well-attended Nambour Garden Club Friendship Day, held on Monday, August 3, at Nambour Uniting Church Hall, 67 Coronation Avenue.
Her lively presentation balanced humour and unusual insect facts with a warning about declining populations. She cited a long-running German study that found insect abundance had fallen by 75 per cent, even within nature reserves.
Gardeners could help by avoiding pesticides, encouraging beneficial insects and growing a range of plants, she said.
Members also learnt that only about 30 of the world’s 4000 cockroach species were pests. Native cockroaches recycled nutrients, aerated soil and, in the case of giant burrowing cockroaches, carried dead gum leaves into tunnels up to a metre deep.
“It’s like firefighting cockroaches,” Ms Gleeson said, saying their work actually reduced bushfire fuel loads.
Other curiosities included dung beetles adapted to different-sized droppings, headless cockroaches able to survive for up to six weeks, and a spiny leaf insect named Ms Prickles, which mimics an ant after hatching inside an ants’ nest.
The club also recognised service members Noelene Hughes and Diana Colpoys for their contributions. President Narelle Hyde praised Noelene’s continuing support and welcomed Diana as the club’s newest service member.
A member since 2004, Diana has served as secretary, president, tour and ramble organiser, membership secretary and newsletter editor.
“I think I owe the garden club more than what it owes me,” Diana said, adding that greater involvement had helped her build friendships and enjoy the club.
