The World of Minibeasts

Chafers: the Rose Chafer

Amongst all orders of insects, the largest number of species is found in the beetles. This story introduces five species of the Scarabaeidae family, commonly named "dung beetles and chafers". With about 20.000 known species world wide and some 300 representatives in Europe, they are one of the largest insect families. 

As their distinctive feature they wear lamellate extensions at the tips of their antennae, that they can fold into a club or unfold to form a fan. By its antennae, an insect gropes its way through life, at the same time, its antennae serves as its "nose". Highly sensitive olfactory senses are placed on them. 

In some European countries, Rose chafers (Cetonia aurata) are a protected species. In the picture, the fans on the antennae are folded  into a club. Rose chaffers have a brilliant green upper side, that sometimes shows whitish spots. Their below side is furry and they wear a beard in their face - not only the males, but also  the females. Even on their shiny elytra some hairs sprout.

Rose chafers can be found from April through September - not only on roses, as their name suggests. They like to sit on all sorts of blooms. Their larvae develop in the mould of the ground and in rotten trees. 

Photograph by José Verkest, Text by Maria Pfeifer