Flower chafer

Flower chafers are a group of scarab beetles comprising the subfamily Cetoniinae. Many species are diurnal and visit flowers for pollen and nectar, or to browse on the petals. Some species also feed on fruit. The group is also called fruit and flower chafers, flower beetles and flower scarabs. There are around 4,000 species, many of them still undescribed.
Ten tribes are presently recognized: Cetoniini, Cremastocheilini, Diplognathini, Goliathini, Gymnetini, Phaedimini, Schizorhinini, Stenotarsiini, Taenioderini, and Xiphoscelidini. The former tribes Trichiini and Valgini were elevated in rank to subfamily. The tribe Gymnetini is the biggest of the American tribes, and Goliathini contains the largest species, and is mainly found in the rainforest regions of Africa.
Description
Adult flower chafers are usually brightly coloured beetles, often metallic, and somewhat flattened in shape. The insertions of the antennae are visible from above, while the mandibles and labrum are hidden by the clypeus. The elytra lack a narrow membranous margin and are truncate to expose the pygidium. The abdominal spiracles are diverging so that several lie on the abdominal sternites with at least one exposed. The fore coxae are conical and produced ventrally, while the mid coxae are transverse or only slightly oblique. The mesothoracic epimera is visible from above. The tarsi are each equipped with a pair of simple (not forked) tarsal claws of subequal size.
A feature possessed by adults of many flower chafers, especially Cetoniini, is lateral emargination of the elytra.
Larvae are stout-bodied and very hairy with short legs. The head is partly covered by the prothorax. Each antenna has the apical segment as wide as the penultimate segment. The galea and lacinia are used to form a mala. The anal cleft is transverse. The mandible has a ventral stridulating area. The labrum is symmetrical with a deeply pigmented notch on each side of the midline.
Biology
Adult cetoniines are herbivorous, being found on flowers (from which they consume nectar and pollen), tree sap and rotting fruit. Larvae generally live and feed in decaying plant matter (including decaying wood) or soil. In captivity, cetoniine larvae will feed on soft fruit.
Many species in the tribe Cremastocheilini are known to be predaceous, feeding on hymenopteran larvae or soft-bodied nymphs of Auchenorrhyncha. Spilophorus spp. have been noted feeding on the nesting material and excrement of South African passerine birds, while Spilophorus maculatus has been recorded feeding on Oxyrhachis sp. nymphs and Hoplostomus fuligineus is known to feed on the brood of honey bees in South Africa and the pupae of the wasp Belonogaster petiolata. Campsiura javanica feeds on the larvae of Ropalidia montana in southern India. Cremastocheilus stathamae feeds on ants of the genus Myrmecocystus.
In terms of movement, adults are considered some of the best flyers among beetles. They can hover above and land on flowers or fruit. When threatened by predators, they escape by either performing a rush take off or by falling toward the ground and then flying before impact. Many cetoniines fly with their elytra closed, as their hindwings can unfold and slide out under the elytra during flight (thanks to the emargination of the elytra).
Larvae of some taxa can crawl on their backs using their tergal folds, which are covered in strong bristles. Others crawl on their legs.
Systematics and taxonomy
The following list contains the genera, subtribes, and tribes of subfamily Cetoniinae, according to Catalogue of Life and Scarabaeidae of the World (2023).
Subfamily Cetoniinae Leach, 1815
Tribe Cetoniini Leach, 1815
Subtribe Cetoniina Leach, 1815
Aethiessa Burmeister, 1842
Anatona Burmeister, 1842
Anelaphinis Kolbe, 1892
Aphelinis Antoine, 1987
Atrichelaphinis Kraatz, 1898
Atrichiana Distant, 1911
Badizoblax Thomson, 1877
Centrantyx Fairmaire, 1884
Cetonia Fabricius, 1775
Chewia Legrand, 2004
Chiloloba Burmeister, 1842
Cosmesthes Kraatz, 1880
Cosmiophaena Kraatz, 1898
Dischista Burmeister, 1842
Dolichostethus Kolbe, 1892
Elaphinis Burmeister, 1842
Enoplotarsus Lucas, 1859
Erlangeria Preiss, 1902
Gametis Burmeister, 1842
Gametoides Antoine, 2005
Glycosia Schoch, 1896
Glycyphana Burmeister, 1842
Gymnophana Arrow, 1910
Hemiprotaetia Mikšić, 1963
Heterocnemis Albers, 1852
Heterotephraea Antoine, 2002
Lorkovitschia Mikšić, 1968
Marmylida Thomson, 1880
Mireia Ruter, 1953
Niphobleta Kraatz, 1880
Pachnoda Burmeister, 1842
Pachnodoides Alexis & Delpont, 2002
Pachytephraea De Palma & Malec, 2020
Paleopragma Thomson, 1880
Paranelaphinis Antoine, 1988
Paraprotaetia Moser, 1907
Pararhabdotis Kraatz, 1899
Parastraella Antoine, 2005
Paraxeloma Holm, 1988
Parelaphinis Marais & Holm, 1989
Phaneresthes Kraatz, 1894
Phonotaenia Kraatz, 1880
Phoxomeloides Schoch, 1898
Podopholis Moser, 1915
Podopogonus Moser, 1917
Pogonopus Arrow, 1910
Polystalactica Kraatz, 1882
Protaetia Burmeister, 1842
Protaetiomorpha Mikšić, 1968
Pseudotephraea Kraatz, 1882
Reineria Mikšić, 1968
Rhabdotis Burmeister, 1842
Rhabdotops Krikken, 1981
Rhyxiphloea Burmeister, 1842
Ruteraetia Krikken, 1980
Simorrhina Kraatz, 1886
Somalibia Lansberge, 1882
Stalagmosoma Burmeister, 1842
Systellorrhina Kraatz, 1895
Tephraea Burmeister, 1842
Thyreogonia Reitter, 1898
Trichocephala Moser, 1916
Tropinota Mulsant, 1842
Walsternoplus Allsopp, Jákl & Rey, 2023
Xeloma Kraatz, 1881
Subtribe Euphoriina Horn, 1880
Chlorixanthe Bates, 1889
Euphoria Burmeister, 1842
Subtribe Leucocelina Kraatz, 1882
Acrothyrea Kraatz, 1882
Alleucosma Schenkling, 1921
Amaurina Kolbe, 1895
Analleucosma Antoine, 1989
Cyrtothyrea Kolbe, 1895
Discopeltis Burmeister, 1842
Grammopyga Kolbe, 1895
Heteralleucosma Antoine, 1989
Homothyrea Kolbe, 1895
Leucocelis Burmeister, 1842
Lonchothyrea Kolbe, 1895
Mausoleopsis Lansberge, 1882
Mecaspidiellus Antoine, 1997
Molynoptera Kraatz, 1897
Molynopteroides Antoine, 1989
Oxythyrea Mulsant, 1842
Paleira Reiche, 1871
Paralleucosma Antoine, 1989
Phoxomela Schaum, 1844
Pseudalleucosma Antoine, 1989
Pseudooxythyrea Baraud, 1985
Tribe Cremastocheilini Burmeister & Schaum, 1841
Subtribe Aspilina Krikken, 1984
Aspilochilus Rojkoff, 2013
Aspilus Westwood, 1874
Protochilus Krikken, 1976
Subtribe Coenochilina Burmeister, 1842
Arielina Rossi, 1958
Astoxenus Péringuey, 1907
Basilewskynia Schein, 1957
Coenochilus Schaum, 1841
Subtribe Cremastocheilina Burmeister & Schaum, 1841
Centrochilus Krikken, 1976
Clinterocera Motschulsky, 1857
Cremastocheilus Knoch, 1801
Cyclidiellus Krikken, 1976
Cyclidinus Westwood, 1874
Cyclidius MacLeay, 1838
Genuchinus Westwood, 1874
Lissomelas Bates, 1889
Paracyclidius Howden, 1971
Platysodes Westwood, 1874
Psilocnemis Burmeister, 1842
Subtribe Cymophorina Krikken, 1984
Cymophorus Kirby, 1827
Myrmecochilus Wasmann, 1900
Rhagopteryx Burmeister, 1842
Subtribe Genuchina Krikken, 1984
Genuchus Kirby, 1825
Meurguesia Ruter, 1969
Problerhinus Deyrolle, 1864
Subtribe Goliathopsidina Krikken, 1984
Goliathopsis Janson, 1881
Subtribe Heterogeniina Krikken, 1984
Heterogenius Moser, 1911
Pseudastoxenus Bourgoin, 1921
Subtribe Lissogeniina Krikken, 1984
Chthonobius Burmeister, 1847
Lissogenius Schaum, 1844
Subtribe Macromina Burmeister & Schaum, 1842
Brachymacroma Kraatz, 1896
Campsiura Hope, 1831
Macromina Westwood, 1874
Pseudopilinurgus Moser, 1918
Subtribe Nyassinina Krikken, 1984
Nyassinus Westwood, 1879
Subtribe Oplostomina Krikken, 1984
Anatonochilus Péringuey, 1907
Oplostomus MacLeay, 1838
Placodidus Péringuey, 1900
Scaptobius Schaum, 1841
Subtribe Pilinurgina Krikken, 1984
Callynomes Mohnike, 1873
Centrognathus Guérin-Méneville, 1840
Parapilinurgus Arrow, 1910
Periphanesthes Kraatz, 1880
Pilinurgus Burmeister, 1842
Priska Jákl, 2018
Subtribe Spilophorina Krikken, 1984
Spilophorus Westwood, 1848
Subtribe Telochilina Krikken, 1984
Telochilus Krikken, 1975
Subtribe Trichoplina Krikken, 1984
Lecanoderus Kolbe, 1907
Trichoplus Burmeister, 1842
Subtribe Trogodina Krikken, 1984
Pseudoscaptobius Krikken, 1976
Trogodes Boheman, 1857
Tribe Diplognathini Burmeister, 1842
Anoplocheilus MacLeay, 1838
Anthracophora Burmeister, 1842
Anthracophorides Moser, 1918
Apocnosoides Antoine, 2001
Charadronota Burmeister, 1842
Conradtia Kolbe, 1892
Diphrontis Gerstaecker, 1882
Diplognatha Gory & Percheron, 1833
Eriulis Burmeister, 1842
Hadrodiplognatha Kraatz, 1898
Heteropseudinca Valck Lucassen, 1933
Lamellothyrea Krikken, 1980
Metallopseudinca Valck Lucassen, 1933
Niphetophora Kraatz, 1883
Nselenius (Holm & Perissinotto, 2004)
Odontorrhina Burmeister, 1842
Parapoecilophila Hauser, 1904
Phonopleurus Moser, 1919
Pilinopyga Kraatz, 1888
Porphyronota Burmeister, 1842
Pseudinca Kraatz, 1880
Stethopseudinca Valck Lucassen, 1933
Tetragonorrhina Kraatz, 1896
Trichostetha Burmeister, 1842
Triplognatha Krikken, 1987
Trymodera Gerstaecker, 1867
Uloptera Burmeister, 1842
Tribe Goliathini Latreille, 1829
Subtribe Dicronocephalina Krikken, 1984
Dicronocephalus Hope, 1831
Subtribe Goliathina Latreille, 1829
Fornasinius Bertoloni, 1852
Goliathus Lamarck, 1801
Hegemus Thomson, 1881
Hypselogenia Burmeister, 1840
Subtribe Ichnestomina Burmeister, 1842
Gariep Péringuey, 1907
Ichnestoma Gory & Percheron, 1833
Karooida Perissinotto, 2020
Mzansica Perissinotto, 2020
Subtribe Rhomborhinina Westwood, 1842
Anagnathocera Arrow, 1922
Anisorrhina Westwood, 1842
Asthenorhella Westwood, 1874
Asthenorhina Westwood, 1843
Bietia Fairmaire, 1898
Bothrorrhina Burmeister, 1842
Caelorrhina Hope, 1841
Cheirolasia Westwood, 1842
Chloresthia Fairmaire, 1905
Chlorocala Kirby, 1828
Chondrorrhina Kraatz, 1880
Compsocephalus White, 1845
Cosmiomorpha Saunders, 1852
Cyphonocephalus Westwood, 1842
Desfontainesia Alexis & Delpont, 1999
Dicellachilus Waterhouse, 1905
Dicheros Gory & Percheron, 1833
Dicronorhina Hope, 1837
Diphyllomorpha Hope, 1843
Dymusia Burmeister, 1842
Euchloropus Arrow, 1907
Eudicella White, 1839
Eutelesmus Waterhouse, 1880
Gnathocera Kirby, 1825
Gnorimimelus Kraatz, 1880
Hemiheterorrhina Mikšić, 1974
Herculaisia Seilliere, 1910
Heterorhina Westwood, 1842
Ingrisma Fairmaire, 1893
Ischnoscelis Burmeister, 1842
Jumnos Saunders, 1839
Lansbergia Ritsema, 1888
Lophorrhina Westwood, 1842
Lophorrhinides Perissinotto, Clennell & Beinhundner, 2019
Mawenzhena Alexis & Delpont, 2001
Mecynorhina Hope, 1837
Moseriana Ruter, 1965
Mystroceros Burmeister, 1842
Narycius Dupont, 1835
Neomystroceros Alexis & Delpont, 1998
Neophaedimus Lucas, 1870
Neoscelis Schoch, 1897
Pedinorrhina Kraatz, 1880
Petrovitzia Mikšić, 1965
Platynocephalus Westwood, 1854
Priscorrhina Krikken, 1984
Pseudodiceros Mikšić, 1974
Pseudotorynorrhina Mikšić, 1967
Ptychodesthes Kraatz, 1883
Raceloma Thomson, 1877
Rhamphorrhina Klug, 1855
Rhinarion Ruter, 1965
Rhomborhina Hope, 1837
Scythropesthes Kraatz, 1880
Smicorhina Westwood, 1847
Spelaiorrhina Lansberge, 1886
Stephanorrhina Burmeister, 1842
Taurhina Burmeister, 1842
Tmesorrhina Westwood, 1841
Torynorrhina Arrow, 1907
Trichoneptunides Legrand, 2001
Trigonophorinus Pouillaude, 1913
Trigonophorus Hope, 1831
Tribe Gymnetini Kirby, 1827
Subtribe Blaesiina Schoch, 1895
Blaesia Burmeister, 1842
Halffterinetis Morón & Nogueira, 2007
Subtribe Gymnetina Kirby, 1827
Allorrhina Burmeister, 1842
Amazula Kraatz, 1882
Amithao Thomson, 1878
Argyripa Thomson, 1878
Astroscara Schürhoff, 1937
Badelina Thomson, 1880
Balsameda Thomson, 1880
Chiriquibia Bates, 1889
Clinteria Burmeister, 1842
Clinteroides Schoch, 1898
Cotinis Burmeister, 1842 - (Green June Beetles)
Desicasta Thomson, 1878
Guatemalica Neervoort Van De Poll, 1886
Gymnephoria Ratcliffe, 2019
Gymnetina Casey, 1915
Gymnetis MacLeay, 1819
Hadrosticta Kraatz, 1892
Heterocotinis Martinez, 1948
Hologymnetis Martinez, 1949
Hoplopyga Thomson, 1880
Hoplopygothrix Schürhoff, 1933
Howdenypa Arnaud, 1993
Jansonia Schürhoff, 1937
Macrocranius Schürhoff, 1935
Madiana Ratcliffe & Romé, 2019
Marmarina Kirby, 1827
Neocorvicoana Ratcliffe & Mico, 2001
Pseudoclinteria Kraatz, 1882
Stethodesma Bainbridge, 1840
Tiarocera Burmeister, 1842
Tribe Phaedimini Schoch, 1894
Hemiphaedimus Mikšić, 1972
Phaedimus Waterhouse, 1841
Philistina MacLeay, 1838
Theodosia Thomson, 1880
Tribe Schizorhinini Burmeister, 1842
Subtribe Lomapterina Burmeister, 1842
Agestrata Eschscholtz, 1829
Ischiopsopha Gestro, 1874
Lomaptera Gory & Percheron, 1833
Macronota Hoffmannsegg, 1817
Megaphonia Schürhoff, 1933
Morokia Janson, 1905
Mycterophallus Neervoort Van De Poll, 1886
Subtribe Schizorhinina Burmeister, 1842
Anacamptorrhina Blanchard, 1842
Aphanesthes Kraatz, 1880
Aurum Hutchinson & Moeseneder, 2019
Axillonia Krikken, 2018
Bisallardiana Antoine, 2003
Chalcopharis Heller, 1902
Chlorobapta Kraatz, 1880
Chondropyga Kraatz, 1880
Clithria Burmeister, 1842
Diaphonia Newman, 1840
Dichrosoma Kraatz, 1885
Digenethle Thomson, 1877
Dilochrosis Thomson, 1878
Eupoecila Burmeister, 1842
Grandaustralis Hutchinson & Moeseneder, 2013
Hemichnoodes Kraatz, 1880
Hemipharis Burmeister, 1842
Kerowagia Delpont, 1996
Lenosoma MacLeay, 1863
Lyraphora Kraatz, 1880
Macrotina Strand, 1934
Metallesthes Kraatz, 1880
Microdilochrosis Jákl, 2009
Microlomaptera Kraatz, 1885
Micropoecila Kraatz, 1880
Navigator Moeseneder & Hutchinson, 2016
Neoclithria Neervoort Van De Poll, 1886
Neorrhina Thomson, 1878
Octocollis Moeseneder & Hutchinson, 2012
Panglaphyra Kraatz, 1880
Peotoxus Krikken, 1983
Poecilopharis Kraatz, 1880
Pseudoclithria Neervoort Van De Poll, 1886
Rigoutorum Hutchinson & Moeseneder, 2022
Schizorhina Kirby, 1825
Schochidia Berg, 1898
Stenopisthes Moser, 1913
Storeyus Hasenpusch & Moeseneder, 2010
Tafaia Valck Lucassens, 1939
Tapinoschema Thomson, 1880
Territonia Krikken, 2018
Trichaulax Kraatz, 1880
Tribe Stenotarsiini Kraatz, 1880
Subtribe Anochiliina Krikken, 1984
Anochilia Burmeister, 1842
Epistalagma Fairmaire, 1880
Subtribe Chromoptiliina Krikken, 1984
Chromoptilia Westwood, 1842
Descarpentriesia Ruter, 1964
Subtribe Coptomiina Schenkling, 1921
Bricoptis Burmeister, 1842
Coptomia Burmeister, 1842
Coptomiopsis Pouillaude, 1919
Eccoptomia Kraatz, 1880
Euchilia Burmeister, 1842
Euryomia Burmeister, 1842
Heterocranus Bourgoin, 1919
Hiberasta Fairmaire, 1901
Hyphelithia Kraatz, 1880
Liostraca Burmeister, 1842
Micreuchilia Pouillaude, 1917
Micropeltus Blanchard, 1842
Pareuchilia Kraatz, 1880
Pygora Burmeister, 1842
Pyrrhopoda Kraatz, 1880
Vieuella Ruter, 1964
Subtribe Doryscelina Schenkling, 1921
Doryscelis Burmeister, 1842
Epixanthis Burmeister, 1842
Hemiaspidius Krikken, 1982
Pararhynchocephala Paulian, 1991
Parepixanthis Kraatz, 1893
Pseudepixanthis Kraatz, 1880
Rhynchocephala Fairmaire, 1883
Subtribe Euchroeina Paulian & Descarpentries, 1982
Euchroea Burmeister, 1842
Subtribe Heterophanina Schoch, 1894
Heterophana Burmeister, 1842
Oxypelta Pouillaude, 1920
Pogoniotarsus Kraatz, 1880
Pogonotarsus Burmeister, 1842
Zebinus Fairmaire, 1894
Subtribe Heterosomatina Krikken, 1984
Heterosoma Schaum, 1844
Plochilia Fairmaire, 1896
Subtribe Pantoliina Krikken, 1984
Bonoraella Ruter, 1978
Celidota Burmeister, 1842
Cyriodera Burmeister, 1842
Dirrhina Burmeister, 1842
Hemilia Kraatz, 1880
Lucassenia Olsoufieff, 1940
Melanchroea Kraatz, 1900
Moriaphila Kraatz, 1880
Pantolia Burmeister, 1842
Tetraodorhina Blanchard, 1842
Subtribe Parachiliina Krikken, 1984
Parachilia Burmeister, 1842
Subtribe Stenotarsiina Kraatz, 1880
Callipechis Burmeister, 1842
Ischnotarsia Kraatz, 1880
Rhadinotaenia Kraatz, 1900
Stenotarsia Burmeister, 1842
Vadonidella Ruter, 1973
Tribe Taenioderini Mikšić, 1976
Subtribe Chalcotheina Mikšić, 1976
Anocoela Moser, 1914
Chalcothea Burmeister, 1842
Chalcotheomima Mikšić, 1970
Clerota Burmeister, 1842
Glyptothea Bates, 1889
Glyptotheomima Mikšić, 1976
Hemichalcothea Mikšić, 1970
Microchalcothea Moser, 1910
Paraplectrone Mikšić, 1985
Penthima Kraatz, 1892
Plectrone Wallace, 1867
Pseudochalcothea Ritsema, 1882
Pseudochalcotheomima Mikšić, 1985
Subtribe Taenioderina Mikšić, 1976
Bacchusia Mikšić, 1976
Bombodes Westwood, 1848
Carneluttia Mikšić, 1976
Coilodera Hope, 1831
Costinota Schürhoff, 1933
Eumacronota Mikšić, 1976
Euremina Westwood, 1867
Euselates Thomson, 1880
Gnorimidia Lansberge, 1887
Ixorida Thomson, 1880
Macronotops Krikken, 1977
Meroloba Thomson, 1880
Pleuronota Kraatz, 1892
Stenonota Fairmaire, 1889
Taeniodera Burmeister, 1842
Xenoloba Bates, 1889
Tribe Xiphoscelidini Krikken, 1984
Aporecolpa Lansberge, 1886
Callophylla Moser, 1916
Heteroclita Burmeister, 1842
Ischnostomiella Krikken, 1978
Meridioclita Krikken, 1982
Myodermidius Bourgoin, 1920
Neoclita Perissinotto, 2017
Oroclita Krikken, 1982
Plochiliana Ruter, 1978
Protoclita Krikken, 1978
Rhinocoeta Burmeister, 1842
Scheinia Ruter, 1957
Xiphoscelis Burmeister, 1842
Xiphosceloides Holm, 1992
References
Evans, Arthur W. Generic Guide to New World Scarabs
Orozco, Jesus. American Cetoniinae
Sakai, K. & S. Nagai, 1998. The cetoniine Beetles of the World. Tokyo: Mushi-Sha. 421p Excellent illustrations of most species.
White, Richard E. (1998). Beetles : A Field Guide to the Beetles of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin. .
External links
Gallery of flower beetles
Illustrated key to South Asian chafers
Punctate Flower Chafer Factfile
WZCZ Gallery
Kaferlatein African Cetoniinae website. Literature page.
flickr tagged images.
Flower beetles of Israel by Oz Rittner
Scarabaeidae
Polyphaga subfamilies