Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

This summer chafer beetle was in my moth trap under the trays this morning. I scooped it out on my finger... Then it refused to leave! I emptied and recorded the whole moth trap with it on my hand. Had to evict it to go to work in the end! I think beetles take longer to warm up in the mornings, so maybe that was why a warm-blooded human was more appealing than a leaf just then. And to be fair I take longer than a moth to wake up too 💚🪲

Grapevine Beetle - Pelidnota punctata

My mother found this delectable insect in the front yard last year (Pictures 3 and 5), and seeing it again reminded me that I still have a few pictures from the year 2022 to share as well. Even though I've only seen this insect once before, I'm drawn to it and it's berry-like form. Among the large-sized Beetles, it's definitely one of the cuter specimens being smooth and rounded. Such as it is when you're a Chafer Beetle and you need to support that armored body with a steady diet of leaves. Within both image sets here, the individuals photographed did seem to be eating vine-based plants that are likely not true grapes, but could very well be in the Vitus genus, but I cannot confirm at the moment as I am not a botanist. What I can confirm is this is indeed a Grapevine Beetle and not any of the few look-a-like insects that could be confused with it. One such insect that seems to pop up in that discussion is the Goldsmith Beetle (Cotalpa lanigera), an iridescent fellow Scarab that may be mistaken for the Grapevine's yellow-colored individuals that lack spots and have brown-colored legs. A quick but detailed examination between the two should be enough to discern them where their habitat ranges overlap. Having detailed a lot of this Beetle's behaviors and preferences in its first post on this blog, I'd like to draw your attention to some physical characteristics for the second half of this post.

In particular, I'd like to focus on this Beetle's legs. Insects and legs go hand-in-hand given they have 6 of them and they come in many shapes and sizes all suited for different adaptations. As such, unless they are unusually different (e.g. Mantis raptorial forearms) they can be taken for granted. However, since the legs of this specie are distinctive to its subfamily (Rutelinae - the Shining Cafers). The Scarabs within that subfamily have tarsal claws (the foot claws) that are independently moveable and are unequal in size (one is slightly thicker and larger). Compare this to other Scarabs such as Rhino Beetles that have 2 fixed claws on their tarsus. For the Grapevine Beetle these claws are very prominent (see Pictures 3 and 7) and may offer an advantage for climbing and grasping when navigating vines. Moreover, there are modifications made to the tibiae, which are thickened and lined with bumpy protrusions. There is also a long spike at the end near the leg. These features (when compared against other Beetles) may help make digging easier which could benefit how easier this Beetle can have a suitable egg-laying site ready.

Pictures were taken on September 7, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4 and on August 10, 2023 by my mother with a Pixel 4a (marked with the Mantis Logo).

Shining Leaf Green Chafer Beetle 🪲

chafer beetle time!!

Cutie!

Flower Chafer Beetle...

do you have any favorite beetles?

Lots! Too many to name so I'll just share one

African woolly chafer, Sparrmannia alopex

Photo by rjbasson

Shining Leaf Chafer (Pelidnota subandina), family Scarabaeidae, Finca Heimatlos Eco Lodge and Farm, near Puyo, Ecuador

photograph by Eerika Schulz

LGBeetles

TODAY I BRING YOU bug

Cetonia aurata to be exact, one of my favorites 😌🪲 Also known as the Green Rose chafer! I'm doing a little series of animals that can be found in our neighborhood! ;w;

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Just the life of being my fun fuzzy summer loving self

Grapevine Beetle - Pelidnota punctata

Upon first glance, this Scarab Beetle has the shape and body sheen of an elongated berry and an appetizing color to boot! It’s like someone took a large Ladybug, gave it heavier armor and stretched it out a bit. This type of Scarab is called a Chafer Beetle, and most of them look similar to this one in terms of form. This is the very first time I’ve seen one, and fortunately it’s very easy to identify. Keeping in line with the body shape, there are markings along the side of body’s shell that take all the guesswork out of it: all towards the edge of the thoracic and abdominal shells. Other key visuals to look for is the darkening of the scutellum (triangle between the wing case) and a marking that encompasses the eyes. Although as I learned by going some investigations, these features may not all be present on your specimen as the Grapevine Beetle has a lot of documented variations in appearance. Some specimens may appear paler in appearance (akin to a dull yellow) than the red shelled individual on showcase while others may be a more orange color. As well, there are variations in leg color with some being dark-colored (like this one), while others have amber-brownish colored legs. All this in mind, it’s very fortunate that despite their variability we classify them as one specie now, while other polymorphic Beetles such as the May Beetle, a fellow Scarab, are far more technical in their categorization.

Yellow or red though, this insect is definitely worth the time to observe. In these pictures, it looks like it was hiding away from the sun’s heat, tucking in a snack of leaves, or both. I think the Beetle was solely hiding away and resting for the day as findings indicate that the Beetles are nocturnal fliers and that the adults solely feed on grape leaves and the fruits of the grapevine. The plant it was hiding on is a vine plant (not necessarily a grapevine), so it’s possible it could have sampled a little bit, but I doubt it. Specialist feeders tend not to waver from their diet, and in the case of this Beetle, it has the potential to be a pest to grape and wine industry. Their numbers are more manageable now, so this potential has decreased as of recent times, and since they’re easy to spot, removal can be simple. They don’t start off as specialists when young: eggs are placed in soil and tree stumps and the hatching larvae feed on soil debris and the rotting roots and stumps of old trees. This presents itself as a potential benefit to clear away detritus and old material from forests. Since their potential to be a pest is low, we may be able to allow these large Beetles to be to our benefit, so long as we keep an eye on them. Their life cycle lasts for 2 years, giving plenty of time to monitor them and see what they get up to. 

Pictures were taken on September 7, 2022 with a Google Pixel 4.

Lucky Chafer Beetle&Shining Chafer Beetle Valentine Necklace by RealNaturesGifts

He Is Here

look at him i care him