Synonyms and other taxonomic changes
Anomala Samouelle, 1819
=Phyllopertha Stephens, 1830
=Spilota Burmeister, 1844
=Callistethus Blanchard, 1851 [used for
marginata by Ratcliffe & Paulsen
(1)]
=Pachystethus Blanchard, 1851 [was used in much of the older NA literature for A. marginata, lucicola & oblivia]
=Blitopertha Reitter, 1903
=Cyriopertha Reitter, 1903
=Exomala Reitter, 1903 [often seen used for A. orientalis]
=Megapertha Reitter, 1903
=Pleopertha Reitter, 1903
=Trichopertha Reitter, 1903
=Apleopertha Semenov, 1903
=Anomalepta Casey, 1915
=Anomalopus Casey, 1915
=Hemispilota Casey, 1915
=Oliganomala Casey, 1915
=Paranomala Casey, 1915
=Rhombonalia Casey, 1915
=Anomalopides Strand, 1928
Explanation of Names
Author is
Samouelle, 1819.
Anomala is Latin, meaning "irregular or deviating from normal" (Internet searches).
Numbers
Nearctica.com lists 41 species for North America.
Worldwide, this is one of the largest genera in the animal kingdom, with over 1,000 described species (180 in New World), though the genus is in need of revision (
Generic Guide to New World Scarabs).
Identification
Some characteristics of the genus:
small to medium-sized, slightly oval-shaped, convex in cross-section
antennae with 9 segments
pronotum not pubescent (hairy)
elytra with shallow striations and puntures, rather translucent (membranous) along sides
Species identification
Anomala spp. Mesosternum detail;
Mesosternum between mesocoxae concave to flat anteriorly, not elevated posteriorly to more than low umbo ......... top, most spp.
Mesocoxae separated by distinctly convex to prominently raised mesosternal process, sometimes porrect ...... bottom, includes spp. such as
A. marginata, lucicola & oblivia [These were placed in the genus
Pachystethus in much of the older American literature and
Callistethus was used in combination with
marginata in Ratcliffe & Paulsen
(1)]
Print References
Dillon, pp. 542-544, plate 53
(2)
Harpootlian, pp. 97-101
(3)
Internet References
Insects of Cedar Creek--illustrates A. binotata and an undetermined species.
North Carolina State University Entomology has 12 species listed with specimens from that state.
