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Species Euphoria fulgida - Emerald Euphoria
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 fulgida (Emerald Euphoria)
Other Common Names Blue Emerald Euphoria for Euphoria fulgida fuscocyanea Explanation of Names Specific name "fulgida" is Latin, meaning, apparently, "gem-like", or perhaps literally "struck by lightning." (Latin Dictionary) Numbers There are approximately 73 species of Euphoria and about 20 species in the U.S. (1)Identification Like a small Green June Beetle, Cotinis nitida (see guide), but more shiny, prominent brown margins. Note how the scutellum is covered by a pronotal projection in Cotinis nitida (left), but is uncovered in Euphoria fulgida (right):
Range Northeastern United States, south to South Carolina, west to Nebraska, Texas, Arizona Habitat Fields with flowers, woodlands(?) Season April-July in South Carolina, May-July in Minnesota, reported May-June in North Carolina by Brimley. (2)Food Adults take nectar and/or pollen. May prefer Plum, Prunus and Shadbush, Amelanchier blooms. These are both white, spring shrubs. Life Cycle As for other Euphoria, presumably. Larvae are presumed to live in decaying matter, but there is suspicion of an association with ants--see genus account. Remarks The resemblance to Cotinis nitida is so close, one wonders if there is mimicry involved. Perhaps Cotinis nitida has chemical defenses? Print References Dillon, p. 552, plate LIV #4 (3)
Harpootlian, p. 117, fig. 232 (4)
Salsbury, p. 186--photo (5)
Marshall, photo 309.9 (6)
Works Cited | 5. | Insects in Kansas
By Glenn A. Salsbury and Stephan C. White | |
Contributed by Cotinis on 13 August, 2004 - 6:52pm Additional contributions by Mike QuinnLast updated 15 June, 2007 - 10:26am |
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