All About Vu

Menippus fugitivus

Vu is a chrysomelid beetle. His scientific name is menippus fugitivus. He is very small, only 5mm long, and very rare. In fact, beetles like Vu can only be found in three places in Australia: coastal North Queensland, Lord Howe Island and Grays Point Reserve.

In New South Wales, menippus fugitivus is an endangered species because only the Grays Point colony has been found. There are about 500 beetles in this colony, and their whole existence depends on a group of just 10-15 Native Hackberry trees (celtis paniculate, if you want to use the scientific name). The trees are only found in littoral rainforest, which is a type of rainforest that has also become endangered in Australia.

Vu’s colony’s home is very close to a car park, on the edge of a public reserve. If people don’t take an interest in its conservation and make sure there is no more development in the area, the colony could lose their home and cease to exist at all.