Crazy creepy crawlies!!
Loz46
Posts: 103
In the space of ten minutes, I have just discovered possibly the biggest slug in the world in my garden, then I was clearing out some old compost, I came across loads of caterpillars/larvae, and THEN I looked up as I heard this deep buzzing sound, to see a huge flying metallic green beetle!! I stepped inside and pulled the patio door closed and took some pics - think it's a figeater beetle? Never even heard of this before - amazing!!
Anyway, any ideas what these little chaps are? They are quite chunky chaps, about an inch long and at least 5mm wide.
And here's the beetle on my tomato plants...
It looked like something out of Transformers!!
Apologies for the poor pics, I had the caterpillars in one hand as I was about to take the first pic, and trying to take the photo of the beetle with my other hand!!
Last edited: 29 May 2016 16:07:24
Posts
Hi Loz. I suspect that the metallic transformer is a rose chafer as we don't get figeater beetles in the UK. Look up a picture and see if it looks like your beetle. The grubs are the rose chafer's babies.
It's obviously the day for rose chafers - we found one on a towel on the washing line this morning - aren't they beautiful
http://www.uksafari.com/rosechafers.htm
Gardening in Central Norfolk on improved gritty moraine over chalk ... free-draining.
They are absolutely stunning. You can forgive their nibbling nature as they bring a spark of sunshine into the garden.
Hi everyone! Yes! I noticed the little tell tale marks on its lower back, and was slightly concerned that I couldn't appear to find any mention of fig eaters in the UK?!
Isnt that a coincidence that I found the larvae, and as I was photographing it, an adult one flew over the fence out of nowhere!
Amazing, I will keep an eye on the compost that the tiddlers are currently hiding in!
Thanks everyone!