Main Menu

Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Basket Search

Donate

PTES News Basket Search

Wildlife
- Close
- - We protect wildlife in Britain and around the world by bringing our most threatened species back from the brink of extinction. We do this through ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Wild places
- Close
- - Some habitats contain such a richness of life that we need to protect them at all odds. We are working to preserve ancient woodlands, orchards and wood pastures and parklands, as well as the countless species they support.
What we do
- Close
- - Everything we do is based on scientific evidence. We gather this through surveys, which you can take part in, and by awarding research grants to the most inspiring scientists worldwide. This evidence guides our conservation efforts and is shared through our events and publications.
Who we are
- Close
- - People’s Trust for Endangered Species was set up in 1977 to save our wildlife. We are governed by a board of volunteer trustees and our team of staff are passionate about protecting endangered species and places.
Success stories
- Close
- - We strive to bring our most threatened species in the UK and around the world back from the brink of extinction. Our successes come from ground-breaking research, practical conservation and education, all with the help of our supporters.
Get involved
- Close
- - There are so many ways you can help save endangered species. Fancy taking part in a survey, joining us on a wildlife event or becoming a regular supporter?
Shop
- Close
- - Support our work in our shop with a range of charity gifts, home-ware, cards and more. 100% of the profits go directly to help wildlife both in the UK an overseas.
Donate
- Close
- - There is nothing natural about the alarming rate at which we are losing animals and their homes. It is absolutely avoidable. We can stop the loss of our wildlife – but we need your support. You can act now by choosing to give to our cause. Thank you.

Home // Key species and habitats // Noble chafer beetles // Seen a noble chafer beetle?

Seen a noble chafer beetle?

Noble-chafer-credit-matt-smith-unexpected-noble-chafer-discovery-in-ancint-hawthorn-PTES-news-header

Report a sighting

If you have seen a noble chafer beetle or their droppings (frass) or young grubs (larvae), we would love to know as many details as possible. Photos of adult beetles or larvae can be emailed to laura.bower@ptes.org. Small samples of frass (droppings) can be posted in to us for identification. Please accompany sightings with a six-figure OS grid reference (eg SO364101) or nearest postcode and clear description of the site in order for us to find the location.

We are especially interested in noble chafers in the New Forest area

If you are not sure if your sighting was a noble chafer take a look at our facts page.

How to look for noble chafers

Noble chafers are very rarely seen but you can search for their droppings. Where old fruit trees in an orchard exhibit decay features, you can survey for noble chafer signs:

With your arm, a long handled spoon or similar implement, reach into any accessible hollows.o
Collect a handful of the wood mould that is inside. This will be fine, woody material produced by fungal activity during the decay process.
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 lozenge-shaped .
If noble chafer frass is discovered please take a small sample and send it to the PTES office, with address and grid reference for confirmation and recording.
If noble chafer larvae or adults are discovered please leave them where they are but take a photograph if possible. Return the wood mould to the hollow.
Always be aware that other species inhabit tree hollows so please explore with care and keep disturbance to a minimum.

You can also help by locating their precious homes by taking part in our Traditional Orchard Survey.

Removing an orchard?

If you plan to remove an orchard that may have noble chafer within it, please get in touch with laura.bower@ptes.org so we can do a survey and potentially harvest specimens for research.

Back to main noble chafer page