Dead Chafer Beetles

[ExiledWool]

Hi

I've found a number of what appear to be summer chafer beetles floating dead in my (very small) pond. Why would they end up in there? Do they larvae in the water then come out or have they simply fallen in?

[Paul mabbott]

No, there is no aquatic connection. They have simply died while in the neighbourhood! Many beetles, including the chafers have a very short life span as imagines ('adults') - they spend a long time as larvae eating plant roots &c, pupate and rapidly become mature. They fly around, mating and laying eggs and then die: their 'adult' life-span may be as little as four weeks - they more or less fly around until they die ...

[ExiledWool]

Thanks Paul