Every year about this time Canberra is infested with beetles that mate then die. This morning I heard on the radio what these little beetles are called.
Now fair warning this is the real common name and not a joke at all.
The “Cockchafer“, yep you read right, beetle is a member of the Scarab or dung beetle family. Their larvae live underground and come up to feed on crops at night.  The beetles live a short eventful life, they mate the male dies and the female finds some dung to lay her eggs.
Unfortunatly in and around the city they are attracted to lights and end up lin large piles against buildings, a lot like a large squirming black snow drift. The majority then die and start to smell a little.
One of the joys of summer in Canberra.