Subject: Huge Green Bug
Location: Greece – North
June 6, 2015 1:33 pm
Hi – any idea what this is? It flys, seems to like plants/pollon and was spotted in Northern Greece May 2015. Any ideas would be great
Signature: Jill
Dear Jill,
We believe we have identified your Scarab Beetle as Cetonia aurata thanks to images posted to Ben’s Beetle Breeding Page where it states: “Cetonia aurata is a very common European Cetonid. They often breed in compost mounds.” According to the Natural History Museum website, it is commonly called a Rose Chafer, and this information is provided: “Cetonia aurata the rose chafer beetle are found over southern and central Europe and the southern part of the UK where they can be very localized. The adults are fairly variable in colour from dark green through to some with a more golden-green sheen. Rose chafers are usually seen in sunny weather feeding on the petals of flowers especially roses. Adults can often be seen from early summer and are very quick to take off and fly if disturbed. The larvae feed on decaying leaves and vegetable matter at the soil/litter interface and develop over two to three years. Cetonia aurata are a very beneficial saprophagous species (detritivore), their larvae are the insect equivalent of earth worms and help make very good compost where they are often found in great numbers.” Since we will be away from the office for a few weeks, we are postdating your submission to go live in our absence.
