Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Scarabaeoidea » Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeidae) » Fruit and Flower Chafers (Cetoniinae)

Subfamily Cetoniinae - Fruit and Flower Chafers

large black scarab – Osmoderma scabra - Osmoderma scabra

Trigonopeltastes delta? - Trigonopeltastes delta

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga

Superfamily Scarabaeoidea

Family Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)

Subfamily Cetoniinae (Fruit and Flower Chafers)

Other Common Names

Flower Beetles

Explanation of Names

Cetoniinae Leach 1815

based on Old World genus Cetonia (origin of name is obscure)

Numbers

55 spp. in 13 genera in our area(1), ~4,770 spp. in >500 genera total(2)

Identification

Characteristics(3)(4):

antennal insertion visible from above--clypeus with sides constricted in front of eyes

mandibles and labrum hidden by clypeus

pygidium exposed

tarsal claws simple, subequal in size

Range

worldwide, mostly tropical; in our area, widespread(3)

Habitat

adults on flowers, tree sap, rotting fruit; some are myrmecophilous

Food

Larvae feed on roots, organic material in soil, or decaying wood

Works Cited

1.	The Scarabaeoid Beetles of Nebraska Brett C. Ratcliffe & M.J. Paulsen. 2008. University of Nebraska State Museum, Vol 22, 570 pp.

2.	Catalogue of Life

3.	Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of South Carolina Phillip J. Harpootlian. 2001. Clemson University Public Service.

4.	Peterson Field Guides: Beetles Richard E. White. 1983. Houghton Mifflin Company.

Contributed by Phillip Harpootlian on 7 March, 2005 - 4:00pm
Additional contributions by cotinis, Beatriz Moisset, Mike Quinn, v belov, KenW
Last updated 29 April, 2025 - 1:07pm

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