Invertebrates
Fiddler Beetle
Eupoecila australasiae · also called green fiddler beetle
Feeding steadily on a cluster of eucalyptus blossoms, a fiddler beetle shows off the fiddle-shaped marking across its back that gives this common Australian flower beetle its name, its green-and-black colouring blending easily among the leaves between visits to new flowers.
Overview
The fiddler beetle, Eupoecila australasiae, is native to forest and grassland habitat across parts of eastern Australia. Its distinctive fiddle-shaped back marking, variable green-and-black or yellow-and-black colouring, and frequent presence on native flowers make it one of the most commonly noticed flower beetles in the region.
A beetle named for its own back
The fiddler beetle’s common name comes directly from the pattern etched across its wing cases, a marking distinctive enough that it has become the single most recognisable feature of an otherwise typical Australian flower beetle.
Status
Not Evaluated for conservation status, found across suitable forest and grassland habitat throughout eastern Australia.
Fiddler Beetle: common questions
Why is it called the fiddler beetle?
It carries a distinctive pattern resembling the outline of a fiddle across its wing cases, a feature that gives the species its common name.
What does the fiddler beetle eat?
As an adult it is a herbivore feeding mainly on pollen and nectar, often at eucalyptus blossoms, while its larvae instead feed on rotting wood and leaf litter.
What colour is the fiddler beetle?
It shows variable colouring, typically a mix of green or yellow combined with black markings across the body.
Where is the fiddler beetle found?
It is native to forest and grassland habitat across parts of eastern Australia.