Golden Beetle Id

Looks like some scarab or Flower chafer beetle (cetoniinae)

Could we get a better pic? It looks like a Protaetia specimen.

I think I can show you the beetle I think it is.

The second green one is Protaetia affinis. Your picture is very dark, so I can't see the green. But I think it can't be Protaetia aeruginosa (left) because this flower chafer beetle is too big. I hope I could help you with my collection.

Finn Kuechenmeister

Hello,

this is infact a Cetoniini, but IDing the genus is not possible with those pictures.

It’s either Cetonia or Protaetia spp,

I’m leaning towards Cetonia aurata ssp with only very little white marks,

but you can’t tell that for sure.

If it‘s a Protaetia, then probably cuprea ssp, but not affinis ssp. This species lacks the white marks on the elytra, which are (barely) visible on the second picture.

Best Regards,

BeetlebreederGermany

Oh... now I found out how I can zoom. Now I think it is P. cuprea sp.

Finn Kuechenmeister

I think it is C. aurata is the answer. That is usually referred to as the Golden scarab and is often used as jewelry. It’s the only bright gold beetle I can think of.

Okay new try. Here`s a list of all european Flower chafer beetles I have. I hope this will help now.

We don`t need the most of them and I don´t have all of the green ones (Protaetia fieberi). I can´t do more than this now . I hope it will help you now. I really try my best because I love Scarabaeidae. Thats why I collect all german ones and it is nice to help other peoples with it but my collection isn´t big yet. I really hope we have found him now...

Finn Kuechenmeister

You literally can’t ID this beetle correctly with those pictures.

Body color is not a identification trait and except the white markings, there is none other visible.

FinnK , it’s nice that you are trying to help, but the difference in subspecies/population +the already high color diversity for the species which it might be, make your collection not helpful in this case.

Cetoniini, you can not go any further than that.

An entomolgist might see a hint on if it is Protaetia or Cetonia, based on the overall bodyshape, but that’s it.

You can‘t ID every beetle you see, even when trying your best, unfortunately.

So your keeping it?

XD

That’s what I would do too.

Lucky.

I’ve wanted one of those.

Cute little beetle.

Daylight is best so if you can't go outside go close to the window a clear day brings out the colors truest. only on 1 picture i could see it's actually green. also phone and pc have crop options so you can close in much better to see details. just some ideas to clear up the pics beautiful beetle i wish those would fly in my garden.