This beetle was flying in large numbers around our roof, on the corner yesterday. At the same time also around the roof of our garden house, also on the corner. We were afraid that they came out of the wood and are therefore longhorn beetle. But we’re not sure. Hopefully the picture is clear enough. The beetle is already dead here.
Answer
Dear Karen,
this is a leaf beetle (family Scarabaeidae), a family of beetles that also includes the cockchafer beetle Melolontha melolontha, the rose beetle Phyllopertha horticola and the cockchafer beetle Amphimallon solstitialis. I suspect this is the Salland beetle Hoplia philanthus; but to be 100% sure I would have to check a few more features in the photo. Actually, the Salland beetle is also a kind of June beetle, which means that the beetle buds at the beginning of June. Especially if your lawn is not looking rosy, there is a very good chance that it is the Salland beetle.
The larval stage of this beetle takes place in the soil. The larvae (= grubs), these are comma-shaped bent larvae with brown legs and heads, feed on the roots of turf and are very typical for lighter sandy soils. At a certain moment the sod breaks down, and can almost be rolled up. The presence of the grubs also attracts birds that destroy the turf even more in their search for food.
At the beginning of June, the Salland beetle emerges from the soil, then the beetles start to feed, this is a period of maturation, during which deciduous trees are sought. Over time, the beetles mate, after which the females lay eggs in the lawn, and the cycle can begin again. The beetles die off in the month of June, so the occurrence of this beetle is temporary. The life cycle from egg to beetle lasts 2 years. During the ripening period, the beetles fly around very actively, especially in the morning.
kind regards,
Hans
Answered by
Hans Casteels
identification of pest insects in agriculture and horticulture, stock goods and homes
Burg. van Gansberghelaan 96 box 1 9820 Merelbeke
http://www.ilvo.vlaanderen.be
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