The rose chafer subfamily includes around 3,000 species that are distributed worldwide. They are characterized by unusual colors and patterns. While numerous exotic species are used as animal feed, the domestic rose chafer enjoys a protected existence.

Rose beetle larvae look confusingly similar to the dreaded May beetle larvae

Table of Contents

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  1. the essentials in brief
  2. breeding and husbandry
  3. Fight rose beetle larvae
  4. Pest or Beneficial?
  5. Protection instead of fighting
  6. frequently asked Questions

    7. the essentials in brief

    • African and Asian rose chafer larvae are high-protein feeds for amphibians and reptiles that are easy to breed. When buying, attention should be paid to quality.
    • The native rose chafer appears on various ornamental shrubs. Since it has become rare and is not considered a plant pest, combating it does not make sense.
    • The golden rose chafer lives in structured open landscapes and can appear in the garden if roses or fruit bushes and umbellifers are growing there. Since he is under protection, he should be encouraged more in the garden.

    Breeding of rose chafer larvae

    The larvae of various rose chafers are suitable as feed for amphibians and reptiles, which is why the insects are often bred by owners of exotic animals. The larvae reach a body length of four centimeters and are about a finger thick. As a comparatively large food animal, the rose beetle larva offers a protein-rich source of energy for large reptiles. They can be fed to weakened animals or pregnant females. For anglers, the insect larvae are a popular fishing bait.

    Which rose chafers are suitable for breeding?

    Many rose chafers have no special habitat requirements, which is why their breeding is suitable for beginners. Like its African relatives, the Congo rose chafer prefers a hot, dry climate, while Asian specimens live in warm, humid climates. Rose chafers can be grown in a well-ventilated box that has been filled with substrate. All species are ground-dwelling and lay their eggs in the substrate.

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    Look origin suitable for
    Chlorocala africana variably colored, always with a metallic sheen Africa Beginner
    Dicronorhina derbyana iridescent red-green, striped white Sahara Desert beginner
    Pachnoda marginata orange-yellow, red-brown or yellow margins Congo Beginner
    Argyrophegges kolbei white with variable black pattern Africa experienced

    substrate

    Most rose beetles live in a soil mixture of 80 percent deciduous forest humus and 20 percent rotted leaves. While the substrate is kept rather dry for African species, you should ensure a sufficiently moist environment for Asian rose chafers. Mix about 20 percent of rotting wood into the substrate and regularly water the soil.

    • humidity: 60 to 80 percent
    • temperature: 18 to 28 degrees Celsius
    • substrate height: 15 to 20 centimeters

    development

    Rose chafers remain in their larval stage for three months

    African rose beetle larvae hatch after about three to four weeks. They live in mulm and protein-rich wood, which is decomposed by fungi and microorganisms. Rose beetle larvae show typical behavior when disturbed, which is why they should be left alone. They roll onto their backs and move in a pulsating motion.

    Occasional feeding and regulation of living conditions are recommended. The larvae pupate three months after hatching. During this time, they are so big that they can no longer be overlooked. It takes about five months for an egg to become an adult beetle.

    Feeding the larvae:

    • Place flowers of fruit trees, nasturtium, dandelion or clover on the substrate
    • Refresh the leaf layer regularly
    • Offer pieces of wood that have rotted white

    Buy rose beetle larvae

    If you do not have the opportunity to breed, you can buy rose chafer larvae. You should pay attention to the exact origin and living conditions of the beetles so that you can purchase high-quality goods. The larvae are said to provide a nutritious food source for reptiles and amphibians, so the health of the rose chafer is important.

    What to look out for when buying:

    • Determine age and height
    • three-month-old larvae are about to pupate
    • better buy younger larvae and breed them before feeding them
    • avoid long shipping routes

    Can I fight rose beetle larvae?

    From the subfamily Cetoniinae, the golden rose chafer is a species native to Germany. It has the scientific name Cetonia aurata and is a protected species. If ornamental shrubs are infested by rose chafers, only gentle and non-lethal measures may be used.

    collect bugs

    Adult beetles feed on pollen, delicate flower parts and sweet plant juices. Collect the beetles from the flowers early in the morning. Due to the cool temperatures, the insects are almost unable to move. They stay on the food plant until it gets warmer. Put the beetles on alternative forage plants. The rose beetle finds an ideal habitat in structured open landscapes with dry slopes or quarries as well as in bushy meadows.

    Preferred forage plants:

    • ornamental shrubs: roses, snowball
    • wild fruit: elderberry, hawthorn
    • Herbaceous plants: Apiaceae

    The golden rose chafer is neither poisonous nor can it bite. No special precautions are necessary when collecting.

    Are rose chafer larvae harmful?

    Rose beetle larvae do not eat plants, but adult beetles do

    Unlike similar grubs, the larvae of the native rose chafer are not harmful. They do not attack living plant parts, but take on useful tasks in the soil. Since their natural habitats are being lost, the insects are looking for alternative retreats in gardens.

    tips

    Shiny gold rose chafers can be recognized by their kneeling feelers and strong legs. Their coloring ranges from green to blue to violet or bronze.

    digression

    Distinguishing between rose and cockchafer larvae

    If you find a grub, you should put it on a pad. Cockchafer larvae remain in a crooked position and try to escape. The grubs of the rose chafer wriggle onto their backs and crawl away with pulsating movements while stretching their stubby legs in the air. While the rose chafer grub is stockier and its front body appears significantly slimmer than the abdomen, the May beetle larva is evenly thick.

    habitat

    The native rose chafers normally live in bushy meadows, on sunny forest edges or in forest clearings. Dry slopes and quarries are valuable habitats for the species, which flies between April and September. It can happen that the iridescent insects settle in the pot or in the raised bed. Females prefer to lay their eggs on soft remains of oak, willow or poplar wood. Sawdust or compost substrates also offer welcome nesting sites. Occasionally the larvae can be found in the nests of the red wood ant.

    Larvae pose no danger

    The grubs of the domestic rose chafer live in rotten wood or in anthills. Occasionally they can be found in the compost. They live in the substrate and feed on organic substances such as dead plant parts and wood debris until they pupate in a cocoon of wood fibers and substrate particles. The larvae thus prove to be important organisms that are involved in the decomposition of organic remains and act as humus producers.

    Adult beetles are rare helpers

    The hungry insects not only eat nectar and pollen from flowering plants, but also flower petals, stamens and pistils. They suck the sweet juices from injured plants and overripe fruits. Nevertheless, the rose beetle does not cause any significant feeding damage to herbaceous plants and woody plants. Since the species has now become rare, it cannot become a plague. They take on important functions as pollinators and thus help to achieve a better harvest in fruit trees and berry bushes.

    tips

    If a suspected rose chafer destroys or ruffles up the insides of the buds and flowers, it's likely other species like the Lesser Rose Chafer. You can recognize him by his thick body hair.

    Protect rose chafers instead of fighting them

    Rose beetle larvae should not be driven away but protected

    Instead of driving the beetle out of the garden, you should provide a habitat for the rare and helpful species. If you remove all deadwood from your garden, you not only deprive the rose beetle of an important basis for life. Numerous other species that have specialized in such ecosystems are being displaced.

    Recommendations for a natural garden:

    • Pile of brushwood from clippings
    • dead tree stumps
    • species-rich rose hedges
    • Leave parts of the garden to themselves

    frequently asked Questions

    When do rose beetles hatch?

    After the larvae have hatched from the egg, they spend the time until pupation in the substrate. They molt twice and enclose themselves in a thin shell of sand, dirt, or bits of wood in early fall. The insects hibernate in this pupa until the following spring. Overall, the development cycle takes about two to three years. the adult beetles hatch in April.

    What do rose chafers look like?

    Fully grown golden rose chafer beetles are between 14 and 20 millimeters long. Your upper body has a variable basic color that can be greenish, bluish, violet or golden. The metallic sheen with green to bronze-colored nuances is typical. The beetles are colored red-gold underneath. The elytra have several white spots and transverse grooves. The white transverse band that extends between the rear elytra is striking.

    Can males and females of the common rose beetle be distinguished?

    The native species lives on flowers of various ornamental shrubs and fruit trees. There are no differences between the sexes of the golden rose chafer in terms of diet. The body features are also similar. Unlike related rose beetle species, males cannot be distinguished from females at first glance. In contrast to their partners, males have a shallow longitudinal furrow that runs across the abdomen.

    Can rose beetles fly?

    Like all rose beetles, the native species has wings that can fly. They are protected by the elytra and can be pushed out sideways under the elytra. The elytra remain closed during flight and are not raised, resulting in a characteristic flight pattern. The metallic sheen of the body is visible while in flight, giving the insects a resemblance to flying jewels.

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Animals in the garden