Explanation of Names
Authors are
MacLeay, 1819,
Leach in
Samouelle, 1819. From Greek,
Melolonthe (μηλολονθη), the
"cockchafer", a group of European beetle species of this subfamily.
Numbers
White
(1) lists 24 genera and about 500 species for North America.
Identification
Medium-sized to large scarabs, usually brown or black. Some are shiny, many are bristly (
setose) or scaly. Other characters
(2):
tarsal claws often toothed or double
clypeus (shield-like area above mouthparts) unarmed (without teeth)
antennae with 7-10 segments, last 3-7 elongate and forming a club, sometimes fanning out (especially in males)
bases of antennae usually concealed from above
scutellum (triangular region at base of elytra) exposed
margins of
elytra straight, not strongly curved
See Also
Rutelinae - Shining Leaf Chafers
Cetoniinae - Fruit and Flower Chafers
