HomeGuideID RequestRecentFrassForumsDonateHelp

Clickable Guide

Calendar

Upcoming Events

Registration is open for the 2024 BugGuide gathering in Idaho July 24-27

Moth submissions from National Moth Week 2023

Photos of insects and people from the 2022 BugGuide gathering in New Mexico, July 20-24

Photos of insects and people from the Spring 2021 gathering in Louisiana, April 28-May 2

Photos of insects and people from the 2019 gathering in Louisiana, July 25-27

Photos of insects and people from the 2018 gathering in Virginia, July 27-29

Previous events

TaxonomyBrowse

Info

ImagesLinksBooksData

Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Scarabaeoidea » Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeidae) » May Beetles and Junebugs (Melolonthinae) » Rhizotrogini » May Beetles (Phyllophaga) » Subgenus Phyllophaga (Phyllophaga Subgenus Phyllophaga) » Phyllophaga ephilida

Species Phyllophaga ephilida

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Habitat · Life Cycle · Print References · Works Cited

May beetle, 2nd beetle collected July 4, 2011 - Phyllophaga ephilida

May beetle, 4th beetle collected July 4, 2011 - Phyllophaga ephilida

Phyllophaga epilida (Say) - Phyllophaga ephilida - female

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 Melolonthinae (May Beetles and Junebugs)

Tribe Rhizotrogini

Genus Phyllophaga (May Beetles)

No Taxon (Subgenus Phyllophaga)

Species ephilida (Phyllophaga ephilida)

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Phyllophaga ephilida (Say), 1825

Size

14 to 19 mm in length

Identification

Best diagnosed by examination of genitalia. Some external characters include antennae 10-segmented, glabrous dorsum, and a barely sinuate clypeus.

Similar in general appearance to P. clypeata, except clypeata has a 9-segmented antennae. Much more similar to P. forbesi, which can be separated by genitalia characters only. (1)

Riley (1988) noted that about 50% of females examined were lacking a pubic process, apparently lost during mating.

Range

e US (TX-GA-PA-IA) - Map (1)(2)

Habitat

Larvae feed on plant material (roots) in the ground. Can be a pest species.

Life Cycle

Depending on climate, may take 1 to 3 years for the larvae to mature.

Print References

Riley, E.G. 1988. The Phyllophaga of Louisiana (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Unpublished M.S. Thesis, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana. 435p., 363 fig, 40 maps.

Skelley, P. (2003) Review of the tribe Melolonthini in the southeastern United States (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae).

Works Cited

1.	The Scarab Beetles of Florida Robert Woodruff. 1973. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.

2.	Global Biodiversity Information Facility (GBIF)

Contributed by Brad Barnd on 11 January, 2008 - 10:25pm
Additional contributions by Phillip Harpootlian, Mike Quinn
Last updated 28 March, 2024 - 1:36pm

Disclaimer: Dedicated naturalists volunteer their time and resources here to provide this service. We strive to provide accurate information, but we are mostly just amateurs attempting to make sense of a diverse natural world. If you need expert professional advice, contact your local extension office.

Contributors own the copyright to and are solely responsible for contributed content.
Click the contributor's name for licensing and usage information.
Everything else copyright © 2003-2024 Iowa State University, unless otherwise noted.

Bugguide is hosted by:

Printer Friendly Version