Fruit and Flower Chafers
subfamily of family “Scarabs“
1 subfamily, 4 species
This text provides a description and information about the biology and classification of flower chafers, specifically those in the subfamily Cetoniinae. Flower chafers are brightly colored beetles that are herbivorous in their adult stage, consuming nectar, pollen, tree sap, and rotting fruit. The larvae of flower chafers feed on decaying plant matter or soil. The text also includes a detailed list of genera, subtribes, and tribes within the subfamily Cetoniinae. Several external links to related resources are provided for further information.
Hierarchy
species of epifamily “Fruit and Flower Chafers“
1 species
species of epifamily “Fruit and Flower Chafers“
1 species
Description#
Adult flower chafers are usually brightly coloured beetles, often metallic, and somewhat flattened in shape. The insertions of the antennae are visible from above, while the mandibles and labrum are hidden by the clypeus. The elytra lack a narrow membranous margin and are truncate to expose the pygidium. The abdominal spiracles are diverging so that several lie on the abdominal sternites with at least one exposed. The fore coxae are conical and produced ventrally, while the mid coxae are transverse or only slightly oblique. The mesothoracic epimera is visible from above. The tarsi are each equipped with a pair of simple (not forked) tarsal claws of subequal size.A feature possessed by adults of many flower chafers, especially Cetoniini, is lateral emargination of the elytra.Larvae are stout-bodied and very hairy with short legs. The head is partly covered by the prothorax. Each antenna has the apical segment as wide as the penultimate segment. The galea and lacinia are used to form a mala. The anal cleft is transverse. The mandible has a ventral stridulating area. The labrum is symmetrical with a deeply pigmented notch on each side of the midline.
Biology#
Adult cetoniines are herbivorous, being found on flowers (from which they consume nectar and pollen), tree sap and rotting fruit. Larvae generally live and feed in decaying plant matter (including decaying wood) or soil. In captivity, cetoniine larvae will feed on soft fruit.Many species in the tribe Cremastocheilini are known to be predaceous, feeding on hymenopteran larvae or soft-bodied nymphs of Auchenorrhyncha. Spilophorus spp. have been noted feeding on the nesting material and excrement of South African passerine birds, while Spilophorus maculatus has been recorded feeding on Oxyrhachis sp. nymphs and Hoplostomus fuligineus is known to feed on the brood of honey bees in South Africa and the pupae of the wasp Belonogaster petiolata. Campsiura javanica feeds on the larvae of Ropalidia montana in southern India. Cremastocheilus stathamae feeds on ants of the genus Myrmecocystus.In terms of movement, adults are considered some of the best flyers among beetles. They can hover above and land on flowers or fruit. When threatened by predators, they escape by either performing a rush take off or by falling toward the ground and then flying before impact. Many cetoniines fly with their elytra closed, as their hindwings can unfold and slide out under the elytra during flight (thanks to the emargination of the elytra).Larvae of some taxa can crawl on their backs using their tergal folds, which are covered in strong bristles. Others crawl on their legs.
Systematics and taxonomy#
The following list contains the genera, subtribes, and tribes of subfamily Cetoniinae, according to Catalogue of Life and Scarabaeidae of the World (2023). Subfamily Cetoniinae Leach, 1815Tribe Cetoniini Leach, 1815Subtribe Cetoniina Leach, 1815 Subtribe Euphoriina Horn, 1880Chlorixanthe Bates, 1889 Euphoria Burmeister, 1842Subtribe Leucocelina Kraatz, 1882 Tribe Cremastocheilini Burmeister & Schaum, 1841Subtribe Aspilina Krikken, 1984Aspilochilus Rojkoff, 2013 Aspilus Westwood, 1874 Protochilus Krikken, 1976Subtribe Coenochilina Burmeister, 1842Arielina Rossi, 1958 Astoxenus Péringuey, 1907 Basilewskynia Schein, 1957 Coenochilus Schaum, 1841Subtribe Cremastocheilina Burmeister & Schaum, 1841 Subtribe Cymophorina Krikken, 1984Cymophorus Kirby, 1827 Myrmecochilus Wasmann, 1900 Rhagopteryx Burmeister, 1842Subtribe Genuchina Krikken, 1984Genuchus Kirby, 1825 Meurguesia Ruter, 1969 Problerhinus Deyrolle, 1864Subtribe Goliathopsidina Krikken, 1984Goliathopsis Janson, 1881Subtribe Heterogeniina Krikken, 1984Heterogenius Moser, 1911 Pseudastoxenus Bourgoin, 1921Subtribe Lissogeniina Krikken, 1984Chthonobius Burmeister, 1847 Lissogenius Schaum, 1844Subtribe Macromina Burmeister & Schaum, 1842Brachymacroma Kraatz, 1896 Campsiura Hope, 1831 Macromina Westwood, 1874 Pseudopilinurgus Moser, 1918Subtribe Nyassinina Krikken, 1984Nyassinus Westwood, 1879Subtribe Oplostomina Krikken, 1984Anatonochilus Péringuey, 1907 Oplostomus MacLeay, 1838 Placodidus Péringuey, 1900 Scaptobius Schaum, 1841Subtribe Pilinurgina Krikken, 1984Callynomes Mohnike, 1873 Centrognathus Guérin-Méneville, 1840 Parapilinurgus Arrow, 1910 Periphanesthes Kraatz, 1880 Pilinurgus Burmeister, 1842 Priska Jákl, 2018Subtribe Spilophorina Krikken, 1984Spilophorus Westwood, 1848Subtribe Telochilina Krikken, 1984Telochilus Krikken, 1975Subtribe Trichoplina Krikken, 1984Lecanoderus Kolbe, 1907 Trichoplus Burmeister, 1842Subtribe Trogodina Krikken, 1984Pseudoscaptobius Krikken, 1976 Trogodes Boheman, 1857 Tribe Diplognathini Burmeister, 1842 Tribe Goliathini Latreille, 1829Subtribe Dicronocephalina Krikken, 1984Dicronocephalus Hope, 1831Subtribe Goliathina Latreille, 1829Fornasinius Bertoloni, 1852 Goliathus Lamarck, 1801 Hegemus Thomson, 1881 Hypselogenia Burmeister, 1840Subtribe Ichnestomina Burmeister, 1842Gariep Péringuey, 1907 Ichnestoma Gory & Percheron, 1833 Karooida Perissinotto, 2020 Mzansica Perissinotto, 2020Subtribe Rhomborhinina Westwood, 1842 Tribe Gymnetini Kirby, 1827Subtribe Blaesiina Schoch, 1895Blaesia Burmeister, 1842 Halffterinetis Morón & Nogueira, 2007Subtribe Gymnetina Kirby, 1827 Tribe Phaedimini Schoch, 1894 Hemiphaedimus Mikšić, 1972 Phaedimus Waterhouse, 1841 Philistina MacLeay, 1838 Theodosia Thomson, 1880 Tribe Schizorhinini Burmeister, 1842Subtribe Lomapterina Burmeister, 1842Agestrata Eschscholtz, 1829 Ischiopsopha Gestro, 1874 Lomaptera Gory & Percheron, 1833 Macronota Hoffmannsegg, 1817 Megaphonia Schürhoff, 1933 Morokia Janson, 1905 Mycterophallus Neervoort Van De Poll, 1886Subtribe Schizorhinina Burmeister, 1842 Tribe Stenotarsiini Kraatz, 1880Subtribe Anochiliina Krikken, 1984Anochilia Burmeister, 1842 Epistalagma Fairmaire, 1880Subtribe Chromoptiliina Krikken, 1984Chromoptilia Westwood, 1842 Descarpentriesia Ruter, 1964Subtribe Coptomiina Schenkling, 1921 Subtribe Doryscelina Schenkling, 1921Doryscelis Burmeister, 1842 Epixanthis Burmeister, 1842 Hemiaspidius Krikken, 1982 Pararhynchocephala Paulian, 1991 Parepixanthis Kraatz, 1893 Pseudepixanthis Kraatz, 1880 Rhynchocephala Fairmaire, 1883Subtribe Euchroeina Paulian & Descarpentries, 1982Euchroea Burmeister, 1842Subtribe Heterophanina Schoch, 1894Heterophana Burmeister, 1842 Oxypelta Pouillaude, 1920 Pogoniotarsus Kraatz, 1880 Pogonotarsus Burmeister, 1842 Zebinus Fairmaire, 1894Subtribe Heterosomatina Krikken, 1984Heterosoma Schaum, 1844 Plochilia Fairmaire, 1896Subtribe Pantoliina Krikken, 1984 Subtribe Parachiliina Krikken, 1984Parachilia Burmeister, 1842Subtribe Stenotarsiina Kraatz, 1880Callipechis Burmeister, 1842 Ischnotarsia Kraatz, 1880 Rhadinotaenia Kraatz, 1900 Stenotarsia Burmeister, 1842 Vadonidella Ruter, 1973 Tribe Taenioderini Mikšić, 1976Subtribe Chalcotheina Mikšić, 1976 Subtribe Taenioderina Mikšić, 1976 Tribe Xiphoscelidini Krikken, 1984
References#
Evans, Arthur W. Generic Guide to New World Scarabs Orozco, Jesus. American Cetoniinae Sakai, K. & S. Nagai, 1998. The cetoniine Beetles of the World. Tokyo: Mushi-Sha. 421p Excellent illustrations of most species. White, Richard E. (1998). Beetles : A Field Guide to the Beetles of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. ISBN 0-395-91089-7.
External links#
Gallery of flower beetles Illustrated key to South Asian chafers Punctate Flower Chafer Factfile WZCZ Gallery Kaferlatein African Cetoniinae website. Literature page. flickr tagged images. Flower beetles of Israel by Oz Rittner
This text provides a description and information about the biology and classification of flower chafers, specifically those in the subfamily Cetoniinae. Flower chafers are brightly colored beetles that are herbivorous in their adult stage, consuming nectar, pollen, tree sap, and rotting fruit. The larvae of flower chafers feed on decaying plant matter or soil. The text also includes a detailed list of genera, subtribes, and tribes within the subfamily Cetoniinae. Several external links to related resources are provided for further information.
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