# Rose Chafer (*Cetonia aurata*)

Rose Chafers are shiny beetles that love to eat flowers. They are often seen in gardens during the summer!

- **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 2/5 · Low
- **Snaps:** 3
- **Habitat:** Gardens and meadows
- **Also known as:** Golden Rose Beetle, Green Rose Beetle

![Rose Chafer](https://res.cloudinary.com/drieglelr/image/upload/v1771425902/objects/5503.jpg)

## Appearance

The Rose Chafer is a brilliantly metallic beetle, often appearing iridescent green with a golden or coppery sheen. It has a distinctive flattened body shape and fine white markings on its sides, making it easily distinguishable from other green beetles.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia
- **Phylum:** Arthropoda
- **Class:** Insecta
- **Order:** Coleoptera
- **Family:** Scarabaeidae
- **Genus:** Cetonia

## Interesting facts

- Adult Rose Chafers are known to buzz like tiny helicopters when they fly!
- Most of a Rose Chafer's life is spent underground as a hungry grub!
- Their shiny green color isn't paint, but light bouncing off tiny structures!
- They have special grooves in their legs to help them climb slippery plants.

## Special abilities

- **Armored Flight:** Rose Chafers can fly with their hardened wing cases (elytra) closed, because of a gap on the sides that helps them launch quickly.
- **Shimmering Disguise:** Rose Chafers have a vivid, iridescent green exoskeleton that helps them blend in with foliage or surprise predators.
- **Nature's Recycler:** Rose Chafer larvae can decompose dead wood and plant matter, which helps recycle nutrients back into the soil.

## Measurements & details

- **Wingspan:** 25-35 mm
- **Size:** 14-20 mm
- **Lifespan:** 30-60 days
- **Flight Speed:** 5-10 km/h
- **Leg Count:** 6

## Diet & Feeding

These beetles love to munch on sweet flower parts like pollen and nectar, and sometimes soft fruits!

- **Age differences:** Larvae (grubs) eat decaying wood and plant matter; adults feed on flowers and fruits.
- **Primary Foods:** pollen, nectar, flower petals, soft fruits, tree sap
- **Foraging Method:** Foraging

## Ecological connections

- **Pollinates:** French Rose (*Rosa gallica*) — Feeds on nectar and pollen, aiding flower reproduction.
- **Eaten by:** [European Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-robin) (*Erithacus rubecula*) — Birds are common predators of adult Rose Chafers.
- **Depends on:** [European Beech](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-beech) (*Fagus sylvatica*) — Larvae often feed on decaying wood of broadleaf trees.

## Traits

- [Wildlife](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/wildlife): Wildlife encompasses all undomesticated animal and plant life existing in their natural habitats.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material.
- [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night.
- [Pollinator](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator): Describes organisms that transfer pollen, enabling the fertilization and reproduction of plants.

## Collections

- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects)
- [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/insects-and-bugs)

## Safety

**Danger:** 2/5 · Low

Do not touch or pick up. Some insects sting or bite. Ask an adult for help.

## Frequently Asked Questions

### How to identify Rose Chafer?

Look for hard wing covers meeting in a line down the back, then compare the antennae, body shape, legs and markings. Metallic colors shift a lot with lighting. Beetle Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### What is Rose Chafer's wingspan?

25-35 mm

### How big is Rose Chafer?

14-20 mm

### How long does Rose Chafer live?

30-60 days

### How fast can Rose Chafer fly?

5-10 km/h

### What does Rose Chafer eat?

These beetles love to munch on sweet flower parts like pollen and nectar, and sometimes soft fruits!

### Where is Rose Chafer usually found?

Gardens and meadows

### How does Rose Chafer hunt?

Foraging

## Where to spot

- [Colchester Zoo](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/colchester-zoo) — England, GB · Zoo
- [Zoologická zahrada Děčín - Pastýřská stěna](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/zoologick-zahrada-d-n-past-sk-st-na) — Ústí nad Labem Region, CZ · Zoo
- [Skandinavisk Dyrepark](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/skandinavisk-dyrepark) — Central Denmark Region, DK · Zoo

[View all places to see Rose Chafer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/rose-chafer)

## More Insects

- [Common Eastern Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/common-eastern-bumble-bee) (*Bombus impatiens*)
- [Spotted Lanternfly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/spotted-lanternfly) (*Lycorma delicatula*)
- [Brown-belted Bumble Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/brown-belted-bumble-bee) (*Bombus griseocollis*)
- [Eastern Carpenter Bee](https://www.snappit.app/explore/eastern-carpenter-bee) (*Xylocopa virginica*)

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Source: [Rose Chafer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-chafer)