Genus Euphoria

Anatropis Casey, Erirhipis Burmeister, Erirhipidia Casey, Euphorhipis Casey, Euphoriaspis Casey, Goraqua Peringuey, Haplophoria Casey, Isorhipina Casey, Parisorhipis Casey, Rhipiphoria Casey, Stephanucha Burmeister(1)

Euphoria Burmeister 1842

24 spp. in our area, ~60 total(1)

7.6–21.5 mm(1), our spp. 9‒16 mm

Medium-sized, rather wide and flattened diurnal scarabs. Rather hairy underneath and on sides, giving them a cute, almost teddy-bear appearance. Flight is buzzy, like a bee or fly. Elytra apparently do not open in flight, which perhaps contributes to the buzzy sound--see this illustration of E. fulgida. Seen on flowers or buzzing about forest floors and diving abruptly into leaf litter.

Most eastern species can be told apart at a glance by color pattern: see, from left to right, dorsal views of E. fulgida, E. herbacea, E. inda, E. sepulcralis

across NA and the New World(1)

in our area:

Fields, meadows, thickets

Apr‒Jul, some species into Oct in NC

Adults visit flowers (for pollen and/or nectar) and rotting fruit, larvae feed on organic matter in soil

Published accounts are consistent on spring emergence, sandy habitats, and lack of adult feeding or liquid feeding(2)