Bug FAQHylamorpha elegans
Hylamorpha elegans · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Scarabaeidae
Source: Wikipedia
The beetle is a green, silver-tinged insect about 12 to 18 mm long that lives in Chile and Argentina. Its larvae feed on the roots of grasses and cereals, harming crops, while adults strip leaves from Nothofagus trees. Control research focuses on its odor-binding proteins to develop targeted pest-management compounds.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
Males have all-green, glossy legs, especially on the middle and hind pairs; females have green legs with variable shine.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure about 11.8 to 18.2 mm long and 5.8 to 10.8 mm wide at the shoulders.
Source: Wikipedia
Is it a pest in the house?
Adults also defoliate trees like Nothofagus, impacting forest health.
Source: Wikipedia
How to get rid of it
Researchers are studying its odorant-binding proteins and chemoreceptors to find compounds that could control the beetle.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
It is native to South America, mainly found in Chile and Argentina.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adults defoliate Nothofagus trees, affecting forest ecosystems.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
The larval stage develops in the soil’s root layer of various plants, including crops.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
The beetle is primarily nocturnal and is most often seen foraging at night.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
Its natural range is Chile and Argentina in South America.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
What impact does it have on trees?
Adult beetles strip leaves from Nothofagus species, harming forest trees.
Source: Wikipedia
When are these beetles active?
They are mainly nocturnal and forage for food at night.
Source: Wikipedia
Are there any new methods being studied to control them?
Scientists are investigating odorant-binding proteins to develop targeted pest-control compounds.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Scarabaeidae)
Japanese BeetlePopillia japonicaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Common Green June BeetleCotinis nitidaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Phyllophaga crinitaPhyllophaga crinitaDamages trees, gardens or crops
European Rose ChaferCetonia aurata
Mediterranean Spotted ChaferOxythyrea funestaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Oriental BeetleExomala orientalisDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hylamorpha
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-23 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.