Ten-lined Giant Chafer

Polyphylla decemlineata

Sometimes referred to as a Watermelon Beetle, the Ten-lined Giant Chafer, a type of scarab beetle, is most well known as a June Beetle around here (or Ten-lined June Beetle). These beetles are attracted to light and leaves, so this time of year is when people are seeing them out and about.

Unfortunately, that attraction to foliage comes from their hunger, and they are known as an agricultural pest because the adults and their larvae eat plant roots, which weakens or kills the plant. Fortunately, they’re not around in sufficient numbers to seriously harm local vegetation.

They can get really big, as much as an inch and a half to two inches in length, and they make a hissing

sound that is equated to sounding like a bat hissing. They make the sound with their wings by pushing down, forcing the air out between their wings and back.

Another sound the June Beetle makes is that buzzing in the summertime- as this beetle will buzz loudly against lights and windows at night. If someone were to hold onto one longer than it likes, it will even emit a squeak.

One of the main characteristics of this large visitor to our gardens and fields, besides its yellow and green stripes and enormous size, is its antennae. These beetles are able to curl their antennae up so that they totally disappear, or they can extend them all the way out into large paddles. They use their antennae to detect pheromones emitted by the females.

The larva stage, where the grub will grow up to look like an adult beetle, can last as long as 4 years.

It was recently discovered by a Refuge fan that they are simply adorable if you can view them from underneath (click the photo to zoom in)! Sometimes we find them during habitat restoration work parties, sign up to help remove Ricefield Bulrush and you might come across some yourself!

-Samantha Zeiner, Administrative Assistant FRWNR