The
rose chafer is a light tan beetle with a darker brown head and long
legs. It is about 12 mm long. There is one generation per year. Adults
emerge from the ground during late May or June, near grape bloom time,
and live for three to four weeks. Females lay groups of eggs just
below the surface in grassy areas of sandy, well-drained soils. The
larvae (grubs) spend the winter underground, move up in the soil to
feed on grass roots and then pupate in the spring. A few weeks later,
they emerge from the soil and disperse by flight. Male beetles are
attracted to females and congregate on plants to mate and feed.
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| Feeding
damage is most obvious on the leaves, though the greatest impact
can be on young clusters when adult beetles remove the developing
berries. 12 mm. Photo: Tom Zabadal |
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