# Summer Chafer (*Amphimallon solstitiale*) The Summer Chafer is a big, brown beetle that loves to fly around in the warm summer months. They are often seen buzzing near flowers and gardens, making them a fun sight to see! - **Category:** [Insects](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/insect) - **Rarity:** Common - **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low - **Habitat:** Urban areas ![Summer Chafer](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/Amphimallon_solstitiale_%28Linn%C3%A9%252C_1758%29_Male_%2819416867136%29.png&width=800) Photo: Udo Schmidt from Deutschland, CC BY-SA 2.0 · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Amphimallon_solstitiale_%28Linn%C3%A9%252C_1758%29_Male_%2819416867136%29.png) ## Appearance The Summer Chafer is a chunky, reddish-brown beetle covered in fine yellowish hairs. It has distinctive fan-like antennae and often appears slightly clumsy when flying. Its shiny wing cases protect delicate flight wings, setting it apart from other common beetles. ## Taxonomy - **Kingdom:** Animalia - **Phylum:** Arthropoda - **Class:** Insecta - **Order:** Coleoptera - **Family:** Scarabaeidae - **Genus:** Amphimallon ## Interesting facts - Baby Summer Chafers live underground for up to three years before they become adult beetles! - Hundreds of Summer Chafers can emerge from the soil at the exact same time, like a secret army! - These beetles are clumsy flyers, often bumping into windows or lights at dusk. - They only live for a few short weeks as adults, making their summer appearance a sprint! ## Special abilities - **Night Vision Navigator:** Summer Chafer has large eyes that help them navigate and fly through the evening sky looking for mates. - **Feathery Antennae:** Summer Chafer has special antennae that fan out to detect the faintest scents of flowers or other chafers. - **Hairy Harvester:** Summer Chafer's bristly body allows it to collect pollen while feeding, helping plants to make seeds. ## Measurements & details - **Wingspan:** 30-40 mm - **Size:** 14-20 mm - **Lifespan:** 20-40 days - **Flight Speed:** 10-15 km/h - **Leg Count:** 6 ## Diet & Feeding Adults nibble leaves and sip nectar; larvae munch on plant roots underground. - **Age differences:** Larvae eat roots underground, while adults nibble leaves and sip nectar from flowers. - **Primary Foods:** Tree leaves, Shrub leaves, Flower nectar, Grass roots, Plant roots - **Foraging Method:** Foraging ## Ecological connections - **Eaten by:** Greater Mouse-eared Bat (*Myotis myotis*) — Bats hunt flying chafers at dusk using echolocation. - **Eaten by:** [European Hedgehog](https://www.snappit.app/explore/european-hedgehog) (*Erinaceus europaeus*) — Hedgehogs sniff out and eat larvae or adult chafers on the ground. - **Eats:** Pedunculate Oak (*Quercus robur*) — Adult chafers occasionally feed on the leaves of oak trees. - **Pollinates:** Common Daisy (*Bellis perennis*) — The chafer helps move pollen between daisy flowers as it feeds. ## Traits - [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. - [Pollinator Magnet](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/pollinator-magnet): Describes plants that are particularly attractive and beneficial to a wide range of pollinating organisms. - [Diurnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/diurnal): Diurnal animals are primarily active during daylight hours, typically resting or sleeping at night. - [Giant](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/giant): Giant describes organisms or objects of significantly larger size than average for their species or type. - [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. - [Nocturnal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/nocturnal): Nocturnal animals are primarily active during the nighttime hours, typically resting or sleeping during the day. - [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 Summer Chafers are harmless, but it's best to watch them from a distance. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### How to identify Summer 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 Summer Chafer's wingspan? 30-40 mm ### How big is Summer Chafer? 14-20 mm ### How long does Summer Chafer live? 20-40 days ### How fast can Summer Chafer fly? 10-15 km/h ### What does Summer Chafer eat? Adults nibble leaves and sip nectar; larvae munch on plant roots underground. ### Where is Summer Chafer usually found? Urban areas ### How does Summer Chafer hunt? Foraging ## 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: [Summer Chafer: Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/summer-chafer)