# Southern Masked Chafer (*Cyclocephala lurida*) The Southern Masked Chafer is a small beetle with a shiny body and furry underside. These little insects are often found in gardens and lawns, where they help break down organic matter. - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Snaps:** 18 - **Habitat:** Urban areas, Gardens ![Southern Masked Chafer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Cyclocephala_lurida_2021a.jpg&width=800) Photo: Annika Lindqvist on iNaturalist; https://www.inaturalist.org/observations?user_id=annikaml, CC BY 4.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Cyclocephala_lurida_2021a.jpg) ## Appearance The Southern Masked Chafer is a small, oval-shaped beetle, typically tan to reddish-brown with a darker, sometimes black, head capsule that looks like a mask. Its body is smooth and shiny, giving it a polished appearance and setting it apart from hairy chafer species. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Scarabaeidae - **Genus:** Cyclocephala ## Interesting facts - Adult masked chafers only live for a few weeks, mostly to find a mate! - Their larvae are C-shaped grubs that live hidden underground. - These beetles are often seen swarming lights on warm summer nights! - They belong to the amazing scarab beetle family, known for their strong bodies! ## Special abilities - **Powerful Diggers:** Southern Masked Chafers have strong front legs adapted for digging, which helps them burrow into the soil to lay eggs and escape predators. - **Night Navigator:** Southern Masked Chafers can navigate at night using their keen sense of smell, helping them find mates and food sources. - **Soil Shelterers:** Southern Masked Chafer grubs live hidden underground for most of their lives, providing protection from predators and harsh weather. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 20-28 mm - **Size:** 10-14 mm - **Lifespan:** 14-30 days - **Flight Speed:** 10 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Grubs eat grass roots; adults may nibble flowers or not eat much at all. - **Age differences:** Larvae (grubs) eat grass roots, while adults feed very little, if at all, sometimes on flower nectar. - **Primary Foods:** Grass roots, Plant roots, Decaying organic matter, Flower nectar, Pollen - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eats:** Annual Bluegrass (*Poa annua*) — Grubs feed on the roots of this common turfgrass. - **Eats:** Perennial Ryegrass (*Lolium perenne*) — The larvae damage turf by consuming roots of this grass. - **Eaten by:** [American Robin](https://www.snappit.app/explore/american-robin) (*Turdus migratorius*) — Robins often pull Southern Masked Chafer grubs from lawns. - **Eaten by:** [Raccoon](https://www.snappit.app/explore/raccoon) (*Procyon lotor*) — Raccoons dig up lawns to feast on chafer grubs. ## Traits - [Furry](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/furry): Furry describes animals possessing a dense covering of soft hair or fur. - [Solitary](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/solitary): Solitary animals live alone for most of their lives, only interacting with others for mating or parental care. - [Herbivorous](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/herbivorous): This trait characterizes organisms whose diet consists entirely or primarily of plant material. - [Decomposer](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/decomposer): Describes organisms that break down dead organic material, recycling nutrients back into the ecosystem. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Urban Friendly](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/urban-friendly): This habitat trait indicates species that can coexist with humans in urban and suburban environments, utilizing man-made structures and green spaces. - [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) ## Safety **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low These beetles are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Southern Masked 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 Southern Masked Chafer's wingspan? 20-28 mm ### How big is Southern Masked Chafer? 10-14 mm ### How long does Southern Masked Chafer live? 14-30 days ### How fast can Southern Masked Chafer fly? 10 km/h ### What does Southern Masked Chafer eat? Grubs eat grass roots; adults may nibble flowers or not eat much at all. ### Where is Southern Masked Chafer usually found? Urban areas, Gardens ### How does Southern Masked Chafer hunt? Foraging ## Where to spot - [Arroyo Conejo Open Space](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/arroyo-conejo-open-space) — California, US · Park - [Commerce Street Residential Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/commerce-street-residential-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Conejo Valley Botanical Garden](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/conejo-valley-botanical-garden) — California, US · Botanical Garden - [East Commerce Street Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/east-commerce-street-historic-district) — Alabama, US · Historic District - [Georgia Institute of Technology Historic District](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/georgia-institute-of-technology-historic-district) — Georgia, US · Historic District - [Glen Echo Park](https://www.snappit.app/guides/places/glen-echo-park) — Maryland, US · National Park [View all places to see Southern Masked Chafer](https://www.snappit.app/guides/where-to-see/southern-masked-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*) --- Source: [Southern Masked Chafer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/southern-masked-chafer)