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The fruit and flower chafer (Valgus hemipterus) is a small scarab beetle measuring 6–10 mm long. Recognizable by its short, flat wing covers and mottled dark markings, the female features a distinct spine-like tail. Active by day, it feeds on flower pollen and nectar.
Physical Traits
Size: Small body, 6 to 10 millimeters in length.
Wings: Short elytra (wing covers) that leave part of the abdomen exposed.
Gender differences: Females are darker and have a long, spine-like rear end (pygidium).
Behavior and Diet
Activity: Day-flying insects seen mostly in spring (April to June).Food: Adults eat nectar and pollen from plants like hawthorn and umbellifers.Lifecycle: Females lay eggs in dead wood, where the larvae grow.
