Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
Fig. 203
Anal segments of chafer grubs: (a)
Amphimallon solstitialis;
(b)
Hoplia philanthus;
(c)
Melolontha
melolontha;
(d)
Phyllopertha hordeola;
(e)
Serica brunnea.
larvae feed briefly during the autumn and then
hibernate; they recommence feeding in the
spring and usually become fully grown by the
autumn. Larvae again overwinter and eventually
pupate in the spring. If conditions are unfavour-
able, development may extend over a further
year.
attack those of crops planted in recently
ploughed-up grassland. Individuals, which de-
velop over 2 or 3 years, are whitish and up to
30 mm long, with the head, legs and body hairs
reddish; also, the body hairs are arranged in dis-
tinct, transverse rows. The adult chafers are 14-
20 mm long and metallic golden-green with
wavy, silvery markings; the underside of the
body is purplish-red. Adults occur from late May
onwards and often feed in the daytime on open
blossoms of Rosaceae, UmbeUiferae and many
other plants.
DESCRIPTION
Adult
14-18 mm long, yellowish-brown and
hairy;
pronotum
shiny;
elytra
dull and partly
ribbed longitudinally.
Larva
up to 30 mm long;
body
mainly white;
head
yellowish-brown;
legs
pale yellowish-brown;
anal segment
partly trans-
lucent, with two posteriorly diverging rows of
spines above the anal slit
(Fig. 203a).
Hoplia philanthus
(Fuessly)
Welsh chafer
This chafer is a widely distributed and locally
common, but usually minor, pest. The adults
occur in late June and July, and often swarm in
warm, sunny weather. Eggs are laid in the soil,
mainly in permanent grassland, and take several
weeks to hatch. The larvae feed on grass roots
Cetonia aurata
(L.)
Rose chafer
Larvae of this minor pest feed mainly on the
roots of grasses, but they will sometimes also
