The Protaetia Beetle (Cetonia aeruginosa or Protaetia aeruginosa) is an insect in the Scarabaeidae family of chafers. It is related to the Scarab Beetle.
The Protaetia Beetle has an oval body with six legs. It is metallic iridescent green with a copper-brown head. Its underbelly is coppery brown. The male has dents on its wing cases, whereas the female has fewer or no dents. Its wing cases protect its wings.
It grows to 2-3 centimetres (1 inch) in length.
It is found in southern Europe, particularly in France and Italy, and east to Romania and Bulgeria. It prefers woods and forests with old, well-established trees.
The Protaetia Beetle eats fruit and will also feed on pollen and nectar. It is also a detritivore, which means that it eats decomposing plant material.
The female lays 35-50 eggs. She dies after laying her eggs. The eggs hatch after 4-5 weeks into larvae (grubs). The grubs eat plants and vegetation. They live in old oak trees for about 2 years before they pupate and metamorphose into an adult beetle.
The adult beetle lives for about one year.
Photographer: Martina Nicolls
Martina Nicolls: SIMILAR BUT DIFFERENT IN THE ANIMAL KINGDOM