Genus Trigonopeltastes

Classification · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Identification · Range · Food · Print References · Works Cited

Delta Flower Scarab--mating - Trigonopeltastes delta - male - female

Delta Flower Scarab - Trigonopeltastes delta

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Scarab, Stag and Bess Beetles)

Family Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)

Subfamily Cetoniinae (Fruit and Flower Chafers)

Tribe Trichiini

Genus Trigonopeltastes

Explanation of Names

Trigonopeltastes is from trigono, Greek "triangular", and "peltast" which was a shield used in battle in the ancient world. Or peltast may refer to soldiers who used that shield. (Based on Internet searches.)

Numbers

Two species (T. delta and T. floridanus) are listed for North America on the nearctica.com checklist. T. floridanus is local to Florida and somewhat rare. T. delta is widespread in the southeastern US.

Identification

T. floridanus has the delta marking reduced apically - resembles a 'V'

Range

North American species in eastern, esp. southeastern, United States. The genus is mostly neotropical. Sixteen species are listed for the neotropical and nearctic regions in the University of Nebraska collection. Other references refer to species from temperate(?) South America.

Food

Adults take nectar and pollen from flowers.

Print References

Arnett (1)

Works Cited

1.	American Insects: A Handbook of the Insects of America North of Mexico By Ross H. Arnett

Contributed by Cotinis on 20 March, 2004 - 12:38am
Additional contributions by Phillip Harpootlian
Last updated 6 June, 2006 - 11:58am

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