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Polyphylla fullo (L.)
Insecta, Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae .

Pine chafer

Description, Biology, Life Cycle, Damage, Common Names, Images

[R]Description
- Adult: 32 to 40 mm, elongated, convex, fawn to dark brown elytra, bearing white irregular spots. Antennae well-developed, lamellated, particularly in the male (*) .
- Larva: 60 to 80 mm long, similar to that of the common cockchafer (Melolontha melolontha): body whitish, curved into an arc; extremity of the abdomen blackish. Head large, bearing strong mandibles; thoracic legs yellow, elongated, slender and hairy. Fine bristles, quite short on the pygidium with 2 parallel series of 7 to 8 short spines in the anal region.

[R]Biology
- The adult develops on pine (Pinus spp.); the larvae feed on roots of wild plants common in sandy ground (e.g. Eryngium maritimum, Psamma arenaria), as well as the plants cultivated on these soils, particularly vine and pine seedlings.
- Adult: it flies 1 hour after sunset, devours the needles at nightfall and remains motionless during the day. It mates on the branches of pine.
The female deposits her eggs in the sandy soil neighbouring the trees. Average fecundity: 30 eggs.
- Egg: development lasts 1 month.
- Larva: it develops in the ground and gnaws roots. It overwinters in the ground.
- Pupa: in the ground, in a small cell; pupation lasts 1 month.

[R]Life Cycle
Triennial cycle: the larva overwinters 3 times in the ground then pupates in May of the third year; the adult appears from mid-June to mid-July, feeds then lays eggs.

[R]Damage
The adults are harmless to the crop; the larvae attack the roots of vine and young pines.

[R]Common Names
DE: Müller, Walker ES: Gusano blanco de los pinos FR: Hanneton des pins, Hanneton foulon IT: Maggiolino marmoreggiato PT: Melolonta dos pinhais GB: Pine chafer

[R] Images

  1. Polyphylla fullo (L.) (Coutin R. / OPIE)
    Adult female

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