Phyllopertha horticola. (Linnaeus, 1758)
Commonly known as “The Garden Chafer”
Family: Scarabaeidae – Scarab Beetles

Length 8.5 to 11mm

Flight season Late March to July. More abundant in June, adults live up to 8 weeks.

A common species of chafer beetles, a widespread species found over most of Europe and into many Asian countries.

Habitat: Various habitats from highlands to lowlands, Flowery meadows, grasslands, woodland edges, Hedgerows, parks and urban gardens, hence the common name “Garden Chafer”
The female will enter the soil soon after mating and will lay between 15 to 25 eggs, generally 10 to 15cm below the surface. Between 4 to 6 weeks they hatch, (obviously depends on temperature conditions). The larvae grow up to 2cm in length and are found on a wide range of plants, feeding mostly on the roots of plants, including a variety of grasses.

Larvae can take between two to three years to develop into adult beetles. They Overwinter in the ground and eventually turn into a Chrysalis, after hatching out of the Chrysalis stage they turn into an imago, (the period during metamorphosis, which is the evolving into adult phase). Males emerge from the ground, two to three days before the females. When females emerge, they are mated nearly straight away, due to the males already being established to their surroundings.
The larvae and adult Beetles can be major pests to many growers and is considered an agricultural pest. The Adult Beetles, will and can damage the complete plant, above ground. The larvae will do major damage to the underground root system of many species of plants, including grasses, and most crops associated with agriculture.