Scarabaeidae

Chafers

COLEOPTERA > POLYPHAGA > SCARABAEOIDEA > Scarabaeidae

Scarabaeidae is a large cosmopolitan family consisting well over 30,000 species worldwide that are collectively known as Scarab Beetles. The family is represented in Britain by just over 80 species that are separated into six subfamiles; three (as featured here) include sixteen species that we commonly know as Chafers, and the other three (featured on the next page) include seventy or so species of Dung Beetles.

Chafers are another group of beetles where the majority of species have a regularly used common name so, keeping with the same format I've used elsewhere, I've adopted that name as the primary identifier followed by the species name in [brackets].

Cetoniinae - there are six attractive chafers in this subfamily, but unfortunately the likelihood of finding any of them, other than in a few specific areas of the country, is now extremely unlikely. The most widespread and frequently observed member of the group is the Rose Chafer [Cetonia aurata], but even this species isn't particularly common. Although I'd seen it a couple of times before in Europe, I was really pleased to find one close to home as there have only been a handful of confirmed sightings from Dorset in recent years. All the remaining species from this subfamily, that are collectively known as 'flower chafers', are either rare or very localised. A few years ago, the Noble Chafer [Gnorimus noblis] would have been a realistic species to target, but sadly that's no longer the case as it's become very scarce. I don't believe that it has ever been recorded from Dorset, but it used to be regularly seen in and around the New Forest except, that according to the NBN Atlas, the last confirmed record was over ten years ago. Interestingly, the most recorded species over the past couple of years is the rather splendid Bee Chafer [Trichius fasciatus]. The only problem is that, apart from a few sightings from Wales, they're restricted to a small number of locations in the Scottish Highlands.

Melolonthinae - includes eight 'typical chafers' that are generally referred to as June Beetles as that's the month they're considered to be the most active although, just to confuse matters, the largest species in this group, the Common Cockchafer [Melolontha melolontha], which can grow up to 30mm, is more commonly called the May Bug! The Brown Chafer [Serica brunnea] and the widespread, but not so common, Welsh Chafer [Hoplia philanthus] are also members of this group, together with the nationally scarce Downland Chafer [Omaloplia ruricola]. The Summer Chafer [Amphimallon solstitiale] is supposedly common and abundant in some areas during July and August, but it's one I've not yet seen and, looking again at the NBN Atlas database, I can see why, as the last time it was recorded from either Dorset (VC9) or South Hampshire (VC11) was over twenty years ago!

Rutelinae - a small subfamily that comprises just two metallic species, known as 'shining leaf chafers'. The Garden Chafer [Phyllopertha horticola] is a relatively common species, particularly in the south, whilst the Dune Chafer [Anomala dubia] is far from common.