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Mediterranean Spotted Chafer

Oxythyrea funesta

The Mediterranean Spotted Chafer is a small, colorful beetle with beautiful spots. It loves to munch on flowers and is often found in gardens, making it a delightful sight for little explorers!

Habitat: Urban areas

Appearance

The Mediterranean Spotted Chafer is a small, stout beetle, typically black with numerous irregular white or yellowish spots covering its elytra and pronotum. It has a slight iridescent sheen, making its dark body sometimes appear greenish or purplish in direct sunlight, distinguishing it from plain dark chafers.

KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderColeopteraFamilyScarabaeidaeGenusOxythyrea
Mediterranean Spotted Chafer
spotted trait badgecolorful trait badgeherbivorous trait badgepollinator_magnet trait badge
Mediterranean Spotted Chafer

Category

Insects

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

Adult chafers emerge from their underground homes just as summer flowers bloom!

Its babies, called grubs, live underground for over a year before changing!

They are super attracted to bright, sunny flowers, especially white and yellow ones!

This beetle can play dead by falling to the ground if it senses danger!

Special abilities

Ability

Pollen Powerhouse

Mediterranean Spotted Chafers can efficiently fly between flowers to gather nectar and pollen, helping plants reproduce.

Ability

Spotlight Camouflage

It has a dark body with bright white spots that break up its outline, helping it blend into dappled sunlight among leaves.

Ability

Grubby Gardener

Its larvae live underground, munching on decaying plant matter to grow strong for metamorphosis into adult beetles.

Measurements & details

Wingspan
15-25 mm
Size
8-12 mm
Lifespan
30-60 days
Flight Speed
10 km/h
Leg Count
6

Diet & Feeding

Adults love sweet pollen and nectar from flowers, while larvae munch on decaying plants in the soil.

Age differences: Larvae feed on decaying organic matter in the soil, while adults consume pollen and nectar from flowers.

Primary Foods

  • pollen
  • nectar
  • flower petals
  • ripe fruit pulp

Foraging Method

  • Foraging

Ecological connections

eaten by

Blackbird

Turdus merula

Birds like blackbirds prey on adult chafers.

eaten by

Great Tit

Parus major

Small birds often feast on these beetles.

pollinates

Dog Rose

Rosa canina

Feeds on nectar and pollen, helping the rose reproduce.

pollinates

Common Blackberry

Rubus fruticosus

Visits blackberry flowers for food, aiding pollination.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Be gentle and watch where you step when exploring gardens, as insects are small and can be easily hurt.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Mediterranean Spotted Chafer's wingspan?

15-25 mm

How big is Mediterranean Spotted Chafer?

8-12 mm

How long does Mediterranean Spotted Chafer live?

30-60 days

How fast can Mediterranean Spotted Chafer fly?

10 km/h

What does Mediterranean Spotted Chafer eat?

Adults love sweet pollen and nectar from flowers, while larvae munch on decaying plants in the soil.

Where is Mediterranean Spotted Chafer usually found?

Urban areas

How does Mediterranean Spotted Chafer hunt?

Foraging

How many legs does Mediterranean Spotted Chafer have?

6

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