Tropinota hirta, also known as the "apple blossom beetle" or "hairy rose beetle", is a species of beetle in the Scarabaeidae family, native to the Old World. It is not found in North or South America.
Common from April onwards on flowering plants, whose parts it feeds on, this polyphagous rose chafer causes serious damage to crops and ornamental flowers.
The larvae live in the soil and feed on roots (often dead ones) without causing significant damage.
The distribution range of Tropinota hirta covers Europe, northern Asia, and the Mediterranean basin. It is not found in North or South America.
Epicometis hirta can be confused with the Mediterranean spotted chafer (Oxythyrea funesta). Indeed, they share the following characteristics
but they differ in:
Tropinota hirta can also be confused with Tropinota squlida. It is very hard to tell these apart without magnification. T squalida is less cold tolerant. It is mostly limited to the Mediterranean basin. Their ranges overlap but there are differences related to color of traps used.
List of subspecies