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Species Euphoria sepulcralis - Dark Flower Scarab
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 Cetoniini
Genus Euphoria
Species sepulcralis (Dark Flower Scarab)
Other Common Names Spangled Flower Beetle Explanation of Names Common name proposed here, "spangled" is a coinage, based on white marks scattered on dark elytra. "Dark Flower Scarab" is also an appropriate common name.
Species name sepulcralis is Latin, meaning Of or relating to a sepulchre (tomb); "sepulchral inscriptions";. Refers, perhaps, to dark coloration and/or white markings? (Based on Internet searches.) Numbers Four subspecies currently recognized
Euphoria sepulcralis leucographa (Gory and Percheron, 1833)
Euphoria sepulcralis nitens Casey, 1915
Euphoria sepulcralis rufina (Gory and Percheron, 1833)
Euphoria sepulcralis sepulcralis (Fabricius, 1801) Identification Very dark elytra with scattered light spots. Variable, some individuals have weak spotting and have rusty hairs on elytra. Found on flowers. Range Eastern and southwestern United States Habitat Usually fields with flowers Season April-June, August-September (South Carolina), May-September (Indiana), listed April-July for North Carolina by Brimley (1). Food Adults appear on foliage of late spring flowers, such as Marshallia, so presumably take pollen and nectar. In Texas, reported to feed on twig of Blackjack Oak, Quercus marilandica.
Eggs are laid in soil under organic matter or manure, and this is where grubs develop. Life Cycle Spring and late-summer occurrence suggests two generations per year, or that adults overwinter, perhaps. Remarks Blatchley, p. 997 (2), ( direct link), says:
Throughout the State (Indiana); frequent. May 6-September 30. Occurs at sap, also on flowers of various kinds, especially goldenrod (Solidago) in autumn. Sluggish and feigns death when touched. See Also Euphoria inda has an uncommon dark form, which might be mistaken for E. sepulcralis. Print References Dillon, p. 553, plate LIV #7 (3)
Harpootlian, p. 118, fig. 282 (4)
Salsbury, p. 187, photo (5)
Taber, pp. 125-126, fig. 110--black-and-white photo, shows feeding on twig, gives common name (6)
Marshall, photo 309.8 (8)Internet References Specimens of genus Euphoria at North Carolina State University
A Comparative Study of the History of Certain Phytophagous Scarabeid Beetles - 1925 publication available online in pdf format from KSU. Information on the life cycle of this species is found beginning on page 121. Works Cited | 5. | Insects in Kansas
By Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White | |
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