Pine Chafer
Polyphylla fullo
This record describes Polyphylla fullo (species). Recorded family: Scarabaeidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
With a body length of up to 3.8 cm this is a large beetle. The black, brown, or reddish brown elytra have a characteristic marble design of white or pale lemony-yellow spots. The female is slightly larger than the male, but lacks the enormous scent detecting flaps of the male antennae. In and around pine woods especially on sandy soil but usually only encountered as a vagrant in Britain. Stridulates loudly. Adults feed on pine needles; larvae feed on roots of sedges and grasses. The females deposit their eggs in the soil. A vagrant that is rarely recorded in Britain. No additional images available for this species.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera
- Family
- Scarabaeidae
- Genus
- Polyphylla
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Habitat
In and around pine woods especially on sandy soil but usually only encountered as a vagrant in Britain.
Seasonal Activity
June to August.
Diet and Behavior
Life History
Stridulates loudly. Adults feed on pine needles; larvae feed on roots of sedges and grasses. The females deposit their eggs in the soil.
Additional species information
Recorded status
A vagrant that is rarely recorded in Britain.
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Polyphylla fullo. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Frequently Asked Questions About Pine Chafer
What is Pine Chafer?
Pine Chafer (Polyphylla fullo) is a species in the family Scarabaeidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How big is Pine Chafer?
of up to 3.8 cm this is a large beetle. The black, brown, or reddish brown elytra have a characteristic marble design of white or pale lemony-yellow spots. The female is slightly larger than the male, but lacks the enormous scent detecting flaps of the male antennae.
Where is Pine Chafer found?
Habitat: In and around pine woods especially on sandy soil but usually only encountered as a vagrant in Britain.
When is Pine Chafer active?
Pine Chafer: seasonal activity - June to August..
What is the life cycle of a Pine Chafer?
Stridulates loudly. Adults feed on pine needles; larvae feed on roots of sedges and grasses. The females deposit their eggs in the soil.