Scarab beetle larvae (cetoine golden)

 you will find these larvae buried in compost, piles of rotting wood...

Classification (systematic position) Source : INPN   Animal Kingdom Embranchement (Phylum) : Arthropoda Subphylum: Pancrustacea Class: Hexapod Subclass: Insecta Order: Coleoptera Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea

Morphological characteristics
Scarab beetle larvae with irregular cylindrical body (back of body more puffy than front, different from cockchafer body which is more regular) often curved in C-shape, 3 pairs of small legs in front of body, small head and dark brown (smaller than that of the cockchafer larva), melolonthoid type larva (curved and white larva). This larva moves on its back unlike the cockchafer larva.

Life cycle
larvae Cetonia aurata develop slowly (more than 1 year) in soils rich in organic matter and preferably in composts. Females lay eggs in summer.

Diet
The rose chafer larva is preferably saproxylophagous, it feeds on decomposed wood throughout its development. It can also feed on other dead organic matter.

Natural predators or regulators
Cetonia larvae are preyed upon by woodpeckers, crows, shrews and moles.

Habitats
The cetonia larva lives mainly in the stumps of dead trees or in hollow woods but can also be found in certain potting soils and composts.

Interests in the garden
Cetonia larvae allow the recycling of organic matter by feeding on plant waste. They never attack the roots of plants unlike cockchafer larvae, and are therefore very useful for the garden.

Did you know ?
The adult rose chafer feeds on the nectar and pollen of flowers and is therefore one of the pollinating insects. It is also attracted to tree sap .