White-spotted Flower Chafer
Protaetia brevitarsis
A flower-visitor that takes flight without lifting its wing cases
The white-spotted flower chafer is a common medium-sized scarab, its bronze-black wing cases (elytra) scattered with irregular white spots. A notch on each side of the elytra base lets the hindwings unfold and fly without lifting the elytra — a key difference from relatives such as rhinoceros beetles.
Key figures
- Length
- About 17–24 mm; bronze-black wing cases scattered with white spots
- Life cycle
- One to two generations a year; larvae (grubs) develop for several months in decaying organic matter
- Habitat
- Orchards, forest edges and compost rich in decaying organic matter
- Diet
- Adults feed on nectar, pollen and ripe fruit; larvae feed on decaying organic matter and rotten wood fragments
- Flight
- A notch at the base of the elytra lets the hindwings unfold and take off without lifting the elytra
- Farming
- Because larvae break down organic matter so efficiently, they are farmed in some regions as animal feed
Life cycle
Egg → Larva (grub) → Pupa → Adult
Ecological role
Adult white-spotted flower chafers visit flowers for nectar and feed on ripe fruit, playing a dual role as pollinators and orchard pests; the larvae break down organic matter in decaying plant material and compost, making them important decomposers.
Did you know
Most beetles must lift their wing cases to expose the hindwings before flying, but this species extends its hindwings straight through a notch at the elytra base, barely needing to open them at all.
Range
Most of China, the Korean Peninsula, Japan and the Russian Far East
Status
Common; larvae are farmed as animal feed in some regions
Anatomy
- Elytra — Bronze-black with a velvety texture, scattered with white spots of varying shape
- Wing Notch — A notch on each side of the elytra base through which the hindwings extend during flight, with no need to lift the elytra
- Pronotum — The plate behind the head (pronotum) also has a metallic sheen, with smoothly rounded side margins
- Compound Eye — Positioned on either side of the head, helping it locate flowers and fruit while flying
- Antenna — The leaf-like, fan-shaped tip (lamellate antenna) can open and close, used to detect the scent of flowers and ripe fruit
- Legs — The feet bear claws, letting it grip firmly onto smooth petals and fruit skin
Open the interactive 3D specimen