What vital ecological role do the plentiful, slow-moving adult Christmas beetles fulfill in the local Australian food web?
Answer
They serve as a critical food source for native predators like birds and lizards.
Despite the garden damage they may inflict, Christmas beetles play an essential function in maintaining the balance of the local ecosystem. When they emerge in large numbers, they provide a vital, temporary surge in biomass, acting as a critical food source for various native Australian predators. Insectivores, including birds and lizards, actively seek out these abundant and relatively slow-moving adult beetles. This cyclical abundance of food supports the health and population stability of these native predator species.
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