The rose chafer is a large, broad beetle that is found in grassland, scrub and along woodland edges. The adults feed on flowers, particularly dog roses, during the summer and autumn, and can be spotted in warm, sunny weather. The larvae feed on decaying leaves, plants and roots, living in the soil for several years as they develop. When they pupate, they hibernate in the soil or in rotting wood over winter, ready to emerge as adults the following spring.
What to look for
The rose chafer is metallic coppery-green with small, creamy-white streaks on its wing cases. It might be mistaken for the noble chafer, but this is a much rarer beetle associated with traditional orchards.
The rose chafer is often seen on flowers in the garden, and is sometimes maligned for munching its way through these plants. However, it is an important detritivore - feeding on dead and decaying matter and recycling its nutrients - and is a helpful addition to any compost heap.
