Beetle ID please

[Za]

Hiya, I saw quite a lot of these beetles today at Bookham Common, all landing on one particular tree, I havent noticed them before and would be interested to know what they are if possible from my not too great pictures.
They had long back legs visible in flight .





Hopefully someone will be able to give me an idea about them,
Cheers
Za

[Gerel]

Hi Za,

looks like a chafer of some sort, from the greenish thorax I would say that ►
Garden Chafer - Phyllopertha horticola is likely.

Steve

[Za]

Thanks for that Steve, hadnt seen these before and I didnt know where to start looking in the Gallery.
Cheers
Za

[Matt Smith]

The beetles appear to be slightly "hairy" on the elytra and a little too "dull" for Phyllopertha, so Ii think they are more likely to be Hoplia philanthus.

[Gerel]

Originally Posted by Matt Smith

The beetles appear to be slightly "hairy" on the elytra and a little too "dull" for Phyllopertha, so Ii think they are more likely to be Hoplia philanthus.

True enough, the long, heavy rear legs look better for Hoplia too. Strangely I've not yet seen a "Welsh Chafer" in Wales.

[Klaas Reißmann]

Hoplia is right. But if philanthus or another species (I don't know which species occure in the UK) I wouldn't try to figure out with htis photos.

Regards
Klaas

[Matt Smith]

Klaas

if you want to see the UK Checklist go to http://www.coleopterist.org.uk/checklist2008%20A5.pdf

Matt

[Klaas Reißmann]

Thank's a lot, Matt. I have to check this one...

Regards
Klaas