Wednesday 27 May 2009

Friend or Foe?

Today in the greenhouse I found this guy lerking on the Petunia's, is he friend or foe? You can't really tell from the picture but he was over a centimetre or half an inch in length, certainly the biggest beetle I ever saw and the first time I ever saw one of his kind.

2 comments:

Matron said...

No idea, but it is beautiful. I bet it would eat all sorts of pests in the garden... but it might nibble through your precious edibles as well.

Phil Voice said...

Hi Bob

It's a Chafer Beetle (Cockchafer).
I don't think that are too much of a problem as an adult but they are a major menace as a grub and will lay into succulent roots.

http://www.kendall-bioresearch.co.uk/chafer.htm

Chafer's are a particular problem for turf professionals.

http://www.grassclippings.co.uk/grassclippings/2009/03/how-to-control-chafer-beetles-in-your-lawn.html

All the best


Phil