Species Trigonopeltastes delta - Delta Flower Scarab

Classification · Explanation of Names · Size · Identification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Internet References · Works Cited

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Delta Flower Scarab - 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)

Tribe Trichiini

Genus Trigonopeltastes

Species delta (Delta Flower Scarab)

Explanation of Names

Trigonopeltastes delta (Forster 1771)

delta refers to the Δ-shaped pattern on the pronotum

Size

8‒11 mm(1)

Identification

Distinctive medium-sized beetle with yellow-orange to brown and black elytra, with striking triangular pattern on pronotum

Range

e.US (NJ‒FL to KS‒TX)(2)

Food

Adults take pollen and/or nectar, incl. from Goldenrod (Solidago), Feverfew (Parthenium), Coneflower (Echinacea), and Rattlesnake Master (Eryngium yuccafolium)

Life Cycle

Mating occurs on flowers. Larvae in decaying wood and have also been found in bromeliads. One of the most common beetles on flowers in the Everglades NP. Thousands-strong aggregations of T. delta observed on large inflorescences of Sabal palm (Sabal palmetto).(3)

Internet References

Texas Entomology (Quinn 2011)

Works Cited

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

2.	A distributional checklist of the beetles (Coleoptera) of Florida. Peck & Thomas. 1998. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Gainesville. 180 pp.

3.	Non-apoid flower-visiting fauna of Everglades National Park, Florida. Pascarella, J.B., K.D. Waddington & P.R. Neal. 2001. Biodiversity and Conservation, 10(4): 551–566.

Contributed by Cotinis on 20 March, 2004 - 12:53am
Additional contributions by Mike Quinn, v belov
Last updated 29 December, 2024 - 9:47am

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