Approximately 20 mm long. Quite similar to the Common Cockchafer but much smaller. The abdomen of Summer Chafer is more rounded (rather than pointed) at the tail end.

Meadows, hedges, woodland edge and gardens.

June to August.  It flies at dusk around the tops of trees and may be attracted to light.

Requires unimproved pasture for larval development. Adults feed on leaves of various plants and trees.

Widespread in the southern half of Britain but quite local.

Rare in Leicestershire and Rutland. There was only 1 VC55 records for this species up to March 2015, that coming from 1907.