Ladybird beetle on a leaf.

Beetle (Coleoptera) research at CSIRO

CSIRO conducts research on beetles (Coleoptera) at the Australian National Insect Collection, based in Canberra.

• 13 January 2009 | Updated 14 October 2011

• Key issues
• Current projects 

Beetles, also known as Coleoptera, are the largest order of living organisms, with an estimated 360 000 described species.

These are classified into four suborders, more than 170 families, and almost 500 subfamilies.

Australia’s beetle fauna includes about 23 000 described species in 3 265 genera and 121 families, but the total species number is estimated to be in the range of 80 000 to 100 000. 

Key issues

Beetles are among the most detrimental insects, damaging crops, timber and causing huge economic losses to industry.

However, beetles are also valuable biological control agents of invasive weeds and cattle dung.

Australia has many exotic, or introduced, beetles in both these categories, but native species can also become pests or used as biocontrol agents.

Research on beetles is focused on phylogeny (evolution of species) and classification of the Coleoptera. Additional research examines their economic and environmental importance.

Since Australia has several unique, endemic beetle families and subfamilies, research is also conducted on the relationships of these groups with beetles in other parts of the world.

Current projects

ANIC's current projects include:

Phylogeny and classification of superfamily Cucujoidea
A collaborative project that includes revisions and phylogenetic analyses of various families in this large superfamily.

Revision and electronic identification keys to the Australian Ladybird beetles (Coccinellidae)
A project aiming to develop interactive identification keys and complete a revision of all genera and species of the beetle family Coccinellidae in Australia.

Electronic identification keys to the genera of Australian aquatic Adephaga
Aproject aiming to produce interactive keys to the genera of Hygrobiidae, Haliplidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae and Gyrinidae occurring in Australian waters.

Australian weevils
This research is revising and updating the taxonomy of the entire Australian weevil fauna, primarily at generic level, providing information on identification, nomenclature and biology of the Australian weevils.

Co-evolutionary studies of Tranes weevils
These weevils are the main pollinators of Australian cycads, and research into their co-evolution with their hosts is essential in understanding a variety of evolutionary patterns and processes.

Species complexes in agriculturally important weevils
This research is aiming to identify weevils of importance as pests or weed biocontrol agents.

Phylogeny and evolution of weevils
Research in this project will cover the phylogeny of host associations in Erirhininae and Oxycoryninae, diversity structure and species radiation in Amycterinae, and higher classification and phylogeny of Curculionoidea.

The weevil research is endowed by the Elwood and Hannah Zimmerman Trust.

Learn more about Australian National Insect Collection.