The Noble Chafer (Gnorimus nobilis) feeds on nectar from open flowers like hogweed on sunny days in July-August. Its grubs live in decaying ancient fruit trees in orchards. The Rose Chafer (Cetonia aurata) is superficially similar. Differences are: Noble Chafer has longer and thinner legs, the middle and hind legs are smooth on the "shins", but they are toothed on the Rose Chafer. There are very small white spots on the thorax of the Noble Chafer. The wing cases of the Noble Chafer are much wrinklier. There are differences in the shape of the thorax. The small triangular area between the wing-cases where they join the thorax (the scutellum) is an equilateral triangle in the Noble Chafer but elongated in the Rose Chafer.
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Peoples Trust for Endangered Species Leaflet
(Photos and text from People's Trust for Endangered Species)
Common name Noble chafer
Scientific name Gnorimus nobilis
Description The noble chafer is a very attractive beetle. The adult is approximately 20mm long and has a metallicgreen
body which is speckled with white. The whole body displays a brilliant iridescence which can flash copper,
gold and even violet when the light strikes it. The noble chafer resembles a much more common species called the
rose chafer (Cetonia aurata). The principal differences between them are that the middle and hind legs of the noble
chafer are smooth whereas they are ‘toothed’ on the rose chafer, and a small triangular area between the wing
cases forms an equilateral triangle on the noble chafer but is elongated on the rose chafer. The rose chafer is also a
much globular and smoother-looking insect than the noble chafer.
Habitat This rare beetle is associated with traditional orchards where it is dependent on old,
decaying wood within live trees especially cherry, plum and apple. They exhibit a preference for
orchards that contain mature fruit trees between 50 and 80 years old. These sites are vulnerable to
removal or clearance, particularly if the trees are reaching the end of their productive life.
Diet The larvae feed on the accumulations of decayed wood debris in the hollowed trunks and boughs.
They produce characteristic droppings, called frass, which may become abundant and accumulate like
fine gravel in hollow branches or trunks.
Habits Adult noble chafers emerge in early summer and live for about 4-6 weeks. The peak flight
season is from late-June through July and August. On emergence the adult beetle can sometimes be
found visiting flowers such as hogweed, meadow sweet and elder.
Breeding After emergence the adult females lay up to 35 eggs in areas of wood mould formed by the action of
fungi beneath the bark or in the centre of the trunk of old, decaying fruit trees. The larvae hatch about two weeks
later. They are white c-shaped larvae, grow to about 3cm long and remain feeding within the tree for 2 to 3 years,
until they pupate.
Distribution The noble chafer is widely distributed throughout
Europe. The key area of distribution in England seems to be
the fruit growing regions - Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and
Herefordshire with outlying populations in the New Forest and
south Oxfordshire. Excitingly a population has recently been
discovered in Kent. Historically the species was also known to
exist in Essex, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Devon
and Cumbria.
Conservation status In Britain, the species has been rare for
the past century. It is a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species
and is classified as ‘Vulnerable’.
the noble chafer
The striking noble chafer beetle lives a reclusive life in traditional orchards. But, as agricultural
intensification and neglect reduce its habitat, this handsome beetle is becoming increasingly rare.
fact
file
rose chafer
The noble chafer beetle is
often confused with the rose
chafer. The rose chafer
however has a globular
shape and lacks the ‘waist’
of the noble chafer.
noble chafer larvae mating pair
Images: Mark Sanders, Chris Harris, Andrew Curran, PTES
People’s Trust for Endangered Species,
15 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 4BG www.ptes.org
Registered charity no. 274206
Where old fruit trees in an orchard exhibit decay features, look for noble chafer signs...
l With your arm, a long handled spoon or similar implement, reach into any
accessible hollows.
l Collect a handful of the wood mould that is inside. This will be fine, woody material
produced by fungal activity during the decay process.
l Inspect the wood mould for noble chafer frass. It may be useful to use a white sheet or piece of paper for this as
when shaken the pellets usually come to the surface. Noble chafer frass is approximately 3mm long and lozengeshaped
.
l If noble chafer frass is discovered please take a small sample
and send it to the PTE S office, with address or grid reference for
confirmation and recording.
l If noble chafer larvae are discovered please leave them where
they are but take a photograph if possible.
l Return the wood mould to the hollow.
l Always be aware that other species inhabit tree hollows so
please explore with care and keep disturbance to a minimum.
surveying fruit trees for noble chafer beetles
If you are lucky enough to find evidence of the noble chafer in your orchard, follow
these steps to ensure the beetles continue to thrive ...
l Take care when pruning and leave thick branches alone as these may contain noble chafer larvae.
l Encroaching scrub should be controlled around trees that are known, or suspected, to have noble chafer
within them as increased shading may cool the trunk which in turn may affect the development of the larvae.
l Fallen trees should be left undisturbed as they may contain developing noble chafer larvae. Where they need
to be moved for access, move them to the side of the orchard where they can
continue to support deadwood invertebrates and fungi.
l Aim for an organic approach to the management of your orchard. Pesticides
may poison noble chafer and fertilisers may compromise tree health through
impacts on fungal mycorrhizae which have many benefits to trees.
l Keeping your orchard well-stocked with trees will maintain a diverse age
structure and ensure the continued presence of wood-decay habitats and future
habitat for the noble chafer.
l An active management programme is beneficial to orchard wildlife in
maintaining the open structure which favours noble chafer and other key species.
noble chafer-friendly orchard management
frass from the noble chafer larvae
Scientific name Gnorimus nobilis
Description The noble chafer is a very attractive beetle. The adult is approximately 20mm long and has a metallicgreen
body which is speckled with white. The whole body displays a brilliant iridescence which can flash copper,
gold and even violet when the light strikes it. The noble chafer resembles a much more common species called the
rose chafer (Cetonia aurata). The principal differences between them are that the middle and hind legs of the noble
chafer are smooth whereas they are ‘toothed’ on the rose chafer, and a small triangular area between the wing
cases forms an equilateral triangle on the noble chafer but is elongated on the rose chafer. The rose chafer is also a
much globular and smoother-looking insect than the noble chafer.
Habitat This rare beetle is associated with traditional orchards where it is dependent on old,
decaying wood within live trees especially cherry, plum and apple. They exhibit a preference for
orchards that contain mature fruit trees between 50 and 80 years old. These sites are vulnerable to
removal or clearance, particularly if the trees are reaching the end of their productive life.
Diet The larvae feed on the accumulations of decayed wood debris in the hollowed trunks and boughs.
They produce characteristic droppings, called frass, which may become abundant and accumulate like
fine gravel in hollow branches or trunks.
Habits Adult noble chafers emerge in early summer and live for about 4-6 weeks. The peak flight
season is from late-June through July and August. On emergence the adult beetle can sometimes be
found visiting flowers such as hogweed, meadow sweet and elder.
Breeding After emergence the adult females lay up to 35 eggs in areas of wood mould formed by the action of
fungi beneath the bark or in the centre of the trunk of old, decaying fruit trees. The larvae hatch about two weeks
later. They are white c-shaped larvae, grow to about 3cm long and remain feeding within the tree for 2 to 3 years,
until they pupate.
Distribution The noble chafer is widely distributed throughout
Europe. The key area of distribution in England seems to be
the fruit growing regions - Worcestershire, Gloucestershire and
Herefordshire with outlying populations in the New Forest and
south Oxfordshire. Excitingly a population has recently been
discovered in Kent. Historically the species was also known to
exist in Essex, Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Devon
and Cumbria.
Conservation status In Britain, the species has been rare for
the past century. It is a Biodiversity Action Plan (BAP) species
and is classified as ‘Vulnerable’.
the noble chafer
The striking noble chafer beetle lives a reclusive life in traditional orchards. But, as agricultural
intensification and neglect reduce its habitat, this handsome beetle is becoming increasingly rare.
fact
file
rose chafer
The noble chafer beetle is
often confused with the rose
chafer. The rose chafer
however has a globular
shape and lacks the ‘waist’
of the noble chafer.
noble chafer larvae mating pair
Images: Mark Sanders, Chris Harris, Andrew Curran, PTES
People’s Trust for Endangered Species,
15 Cloisters House, 8 Battersea Park Road, London, SW8 4BG www.ptes.org
Registered charity no. 274206
Where old fruit trees in an orchard exhibit decay features, look for noble chafer signs...
l With your arm, a long handled spoon or similar implement, reach into any
accessible hollows.
l Collect a handful of the wood mould that is inside. This will be fine, woody material
produced by fungal activity during the decay process.
l Inspect the wood mould for noble chafer frass. It may be useful to use a white sheet or piece of paper for this as
when shaken the pellets usually come to the surface. Noble chafer frass is approximately 3mm long and lozengeshaped
.
l If noble chafer frass is discovered please take a small sample
and send it to the PTE S office, with address or grid reference for
confirmation and recording.
l If noble chafer larvae are discovered please leave them where
they are but take a photograph if possible.
l Return the wood mould to the hollow.
l Always be aware that other species inhabit tree hollows so
please explore with care and keep disturbance to a minimum.
surveying fruit trees for noble chafer beetles
If you are lucky enough to find evidence of the noble chafer in your orchard, follow
these steps to ensure the beetles continue to thrive ...
l Take care when pruning and leave thick branches alone as these may contain noble chafer larvae.
l Encroaching scrub should be controlled around trees that are known, or suspected, to have noble chafer
within them as increased shading may cool the trunk which in turn may affect the development of the larvae.
l Fallen trees should be left undisturbed as they may contain developing noble chafer larvae. Where they need
to be moved for access, move them to the side of the orchard where they can
continue to support deadwood invertebrates and fungi.
l Aim for an organic approach to the management of your orchard. Pesticides
may poison noble chafer and fertilisers may compromise tree health through
impacts on fungal mycorrhizae which have many benefits to trees.
l Keeping your orchard well-stocked with trees will maintain a diverse age
structure and ensure the continued presence of wood-decay habitats and future
habitat for the noble chafer.
l An active management programme is beneficial to orchard wildlife in
maintaining the open structure which favours noble chafer and other key species.
noble chafer-friendly orchard management
frass from the noble chafer larvae
