Flower Chafer Beetle

Flower chafers are a large subfamily (Cetoniinae) of scarab beetles distinguished by their fondness for flowers, pollen, nectar, and ripe fruit. They come in a dazzling range of colors, from iridescent emerald and gold to deep bronze, often with white or cream markings.

These beetles are found on every continent except Antarctica, with the greatest diversity in tropical regions. Many are active by day and are strong fliers, notably able to fly with their hardened wing covers held closed, an unusual trait among beetles that lets them keep a streamlined shape.

Flower chafers are among the most popular beetles with hobbyists because of their beauty, docile nature, and the ease of rearing some species. In nature they are frequent visitors to blossoms, where they feed and contribute to pollination.

Look for these features:

• Broad, somewhat flattened body from 1 to 4 cm long
• Often brilliant metallic green, gold, bronze, or patterned coloration
• Wing covers that stay closed during flight, with wings extending from side notches
• Clubbed antennae typical of scarabs
• Frequently seen on or around flowers in daylight

Lookalikes include other scarabs such as June beetles, but the flower-feeding habit and closed-elytra flight are characteristic.

Flower chafers occur worldwide except Antarctica, from tropical forests to temperate gardens and meadows. Adults are found on flowering shrubs and trees, blossoms, and ripening fruit. Larvae develop in decaying wood, compost, leaf litter, and rich soil. Adults are most active on warm, sunny days in the growing season.

Adult flower chafers feed on pollen, nectar, sap, and soft ripe fruit, and their flower-visiting habits make them incidental pollinators. Larvae are detritivores that break down decaying plant matter, contributing to nutrient recycling in soil and compost. Adults fly readily in warm weather, producing an audible buzz.

Flower chafers undergo complete metamorphosis. Females lay eggs in decaying wood, compost, or rich soil. The C-shaped white grubs feed on decomposing organic matter, molting through several stages, and can move on their backs in some species. They then pupate in a soil cell and emerge as adults. Depending on climate and species, development may take several months to a year, with adults active in warm seasons.