Silhouette: Udo Schmidt · PhyloPic
Amphimallon majale
In 3 days ~20% in a week ~40%
The European chafer (Amphimallon majale; formerly classified as Rhizotrogus majalis) is a beetle of the family Scarabaeidae. Formerly found only in continental Europe, this invasive species is now found at temperate latitudes in North America. The large, white grubs of A. majale feed on the roots of most cool-latitude grasses, both wild and cultivated. This has made the European chafer an enemy of lawns.
Adult beetles are medium-sized, light reddish-brown, and approximately 13–14 millimetres (1⁄2–9⁄16 in) long. Their pronotum features a narrow band of light-yellow setae and the underside of the thorax has similar coloured setae. The tip of the abdomen protrudes beyond the wing covers. Wing covers have longitudinal grooves.
Larvae are white-coloured and C-shaped, with a yellow-brown head and six jointed legs. The raster has two distinct rows of small spines that diverge outward at the tip of the abdomen. Fully grown larvae are 20–23 millimetres (25⁄32–29⁄32 in) long.
The pupae of the European chafer resemble those of the other turf-infesting scarab beetles, such as the Japanese beetle. Pupae are about 16 millimetres (5... Wikipedia →
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More parks will be added in future updates.
With luck
About 10% of wildlife watchers report a European Chafer sighting in Seattle on a given day, based on 111 verified sightings from GBIF citizen-science data. It is the 50th most-seen of the 428 insects we can rate there. Over three days the chance rises to about 20%, and over a week to about 40%, if each day is a fresh chance.
June
In that month about 20% of wildlife watchers report a European Chafer in Seattle on a given day, against under 5% in August to May, the lowest months. That is one of Seattle's driest months, with about 50 mm of rain against 190 mm in November.
Among the best
Of the 9 cities where we can rate European Chafer sightings, Seattle ranks 2nd at about 10%, level with the leaders once rounded. The best odds are in Vancouver (Canada, about 10%).
GBIF citizen-science records
It is estimated from how often the European Chafer is recorded against all the insects logged in Seattle (111 verified sightings), calibrated against known sighting rates. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10% because citizen-science data supports honest approximations, not decimals, and months with records from fewer than five people show "—". How it works.
