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Genus Dichelonyx
Classification Kingdom Animalia (Animals)
Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)
Class Insecta (Insects)
Order Coleoptera (Beetles)
Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Long-horned, Leaf and Snout Beetles)
Superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Scarab, Stag and Bess Beetles)
Family Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)
Subfamily Melolonthinae (May Beetles and Junebugs)
Tribe Dichelonychini
Genus Dichelonyx
Synonyms and other taxonomic changes Philochloenia Dejean 1833, Anaeretes Dejean 1836, Dichelonycha Kirby 1837 Explanation of Names 'split claws'
Numbers 27 spp. in our area (1)(2)Identification Elongated, rather flattened metallic green or brown scarabs covered with silky pubescence (4)
eyes large, prominent
tarsal claws cleft at tip
The genus can be separated into two groups based on the presence of a longitudinal groove ("sulcus") on the pronotum vs pronotum with only a faintly impressed, if any, mid-line
Range Nearctic: Transcontinental, Canada to Mexico (6)Habitat On shoots and young leaves of herbaceous or woody plants, sometimes on flowers (4)Season Typically, late spring (4); Apr-Jun in SC (5)Food Adults feed in spring on the leaves of trees, frequently conifers, sometimes causing conspicuous defoliation. Larvae feed on roots (7)Remarks At least some are both nocturnal and diurnal (4); several species come to lights. Print References Brown, W.J. (1946) Notes on some species of Canthon and Dichelonyx (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). The Canadian Entomologist, 78, 104-109.
Cornell J.F. (1972) A taxonomic review of the beetle genus Dichelonyx Harris in North America (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae). Ph.D. Dissertation, Oregon State U., Corvallis. 253 pp. (Full text)
Fall, H.C. (1901) Notes on Dichelonycha and Cantharis, with descriptions of new species in other genera. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 27, 277-310. (Full Text)
Fall, H.C. (1907) Descriptions of new species. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 33, 218-272. (Page for D. testaceipennis; page for D. mormona)
Hatch, M.H. (1971) The beetles of the Pacific northwest. Part V. Rhipiceroidea, Sternoxi, Phytophaga, Rhynchophora, and Lamellicornia. Univ. of Wash. Publications in Biology, Vol. 16, 1-662. (Download portal for PDF here...Dichelonyx on pg. 468)
Horn, G.H. (1876) Revision of the United States of Ochodaeus and other genera of Scarabaeidae. Trans. Amer. Ent. Soc., 5, 177-197. (Dichelonyx begins on pg. 186 here)
Kirby, W. (1837) The Insects. In: Fauna Boreali-Americana,[...]. Longman, London. 325 pp. (Orig. Desc. D. backi with Fig. 6 of Plate II)
LeConte, J.L. (1856) Synopsis of the Melolonthidae of the United States. Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci. Philadelphia, (2)3, 225-288. (Treatment of "Dichelonychia")
Leng, C.W. (1920) Catalogue of the Coleoptera of America, north of Mexico. John D. Sherman, Jr. Mount Vernon, NY. 470 pp. (Entry for Dichelonyx)
Saylor L.W. (1945) Revision of the scarab beetles of the genus Dichelonyx. Bull. Brooklyn Entomol. Soc. 40(5): 137-158. (Full text)
VanDyke, E, C. (1918). Some new Beetles in the Families Cantharidae (Lampyridae), Ptinidae and Scarabaeidae, from Western North America. Bull. Brooklyn Ent. Soc. 13(1): 1-15 (Dichelonyx on pp. 11-13)Works Cited | 1. | The Scarabaeoid Beetles of Nebraska
Brett C. Ratcliffe & M.J. Paulsen. 2008. University of Nebraska State Museum, Vol 22, 570 pp. | |
| 3. | Field Guide to Beetles of California
Arthur V. Evans and James N. Hogue. 2006. University of California Press. | |
| 4. | A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America
Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence. 1961. Row, Peterson, and Company. | |
| 5. | Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of South Carolina
Phillip J. Harpootlian. 2001. Clemson University Public Service. | |
| 6. | The Beetles of Northeastern North America, Vol. 1 and 2.
Downie, N.M., and R.H. Arnett. 1996. The Sandhill Crane Press, Gainesville, FL. | |
| 7. | Western Forest Insects
Furniss, R.L. and Carolin, V.M. 1977. 1977. U.S.D.A. Forest Service Misc. Publ. 1339. | |
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