Valgus hemipterus

Stumbling beetle ( male ) ( valgus hemipterus )

The stumbling beetle ( Valgus hemipterus ) is a beetle of the family of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae ).

Features

The beetles reach a body length of six to ten millimeters. The male has a dark and light scaled, the female a mostly dark scaly body. The elytra are shortened so that they do not cover the entire abdomen. The female carries the abdomen end a conspicuous, long sting ( telson ), by which it is easily distinguished from the male in addition to its darker color.

Occurrence

The beetles are found in South and Central Europe, the Caucasus, North Africa and Turkey. The northern limit of distribution is approximately in the Netherlands. They are found from May to June, either on flowers or on wood. They are quite common.

Way of life

The larvae feed in standing and lying deadwood trunks of birches and other deciduous trees. The beetles overwinter as a pupa.