Flower chafers are a group of scarab beetles

Scarabaeidae

The family Scarabaeidae as currently defined consists of over 30,000 species of beetles worldwide. The species in this large family are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family is fairly unstable, with numerous competing theories, and new proposals appearing quite...

, comprising the subfamily Cetoniinae. Many species are diurnal

Diurnal animal

Diurnality is a plant or animal behavior characterized by activity during the day and sleeping at night.-In animals:Animals that are not diurnal might be nocturnal or crepuscular . Many animal species are diurnal, including many mammals, insects, reptiles and birds...

 and visit flower

Flower

A flower, sometimes known as a bloom or blossom, is the reproductive structure found in flowering plants . The biological function of a flower is to effect reproduction, usually by providing a mechanism for the union of sperm with eggs...

s for pollen

Pollen

Pollen is a fine to coarse powder containing the microgametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes . Pollen grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement from the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the...

 and nectar, or to browse on the petals. Some species also feed on fruit

Fruit

In broad terms, a fruit is a structure of a plant that contains its seeds.The term has different meanings dependent on context. In non-technical usage, such as food preparation, fruit normally means the fleshy seed-associated structures of certain plants that are sweet and edible in the raw state,...

. 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.

Overview

By morphological

Morphology (biology)

In biology, morphology is a branch of bioscience dealing with the study of the form and structure of organisms and their specific structural features....

 characters, the adults can be separated from the other scarabs by the combination of the following characters: epipleuron

Pleuron (insect)

The pleuron is a lateral sclerite of thoracic segment of an insect between the tergum and the sternum. The terms pro-, meso- and metapleuron are used respectively for the pleura of the first, second and third thoracic segments....

 easily recognizable, border lateral of elytra

Elytron

An elytron is a modified, hardened forewing of certain insect orders, notably beetles and a few of the true bugs ; in most true bugs, the forewings are instead called hemelytra, as only the basal half is thickened while the apex is membranous...

 sinuate and antennal

Antenna (biology)

Antennae in biology have historically been paired appendages used for sensing in arthropods. More recently, the term has also been applied to cilium structures present in most cell types of eukaryotes....

 insertion visible from above. Six tribes are normally recognized: Stenotarsiini, Schizorhinini, Gymnetini, Goliathini, Cetoniini, and Cremastocheilini, the last four are also found in the New World

New World

The New World is one of the names used for the Western Hemisphere, specifically America and sometimes Oceania . The term originated in the late 15th century, when America had been recently discovered by European explorers, expanding the geographical horizon of the people of the European middle...

. 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

Africa

Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...

.

Systematics and taxonomy

The tribes of subfamily Cetoniinae, with some notable genera also listed, are:

Subtribus Cetoniina Leach, 1815

• Aethiessa Burmeister, 1842
• Cetonia
  Cetonia
  Cetonia is a genus of beetles in family Scarabaeidae. One of the most familiar species is the rose chafer .-Species:-External links:*...
  
  Fabricius, 1775
• Chlorixanthe Bates, 1889
• Euphoria
  Euphoria (beetle)
  Euphoria is a genus of New World scarab beetles in the subfamily Cetoniinae, the flower chafers. It is estimated that there are 20-29 species of the genus Euphoria in North America. These beetles are diurnal, and visit flowers to obtain pollen and/or nectar...
  
  Burmeister, 1842
• Heterocnemis Albers, 1852
• Ischnoscelis Burmeister, 1842
• Protaetia
  Protaetia
  Protaetia is a genus of beetles of the Scarabeidae family. It originates in Asia.-References:"The Asian mango flower beetle,Protaetia fusca , and Euphoriasepulcralis in Florida and theWest Indies Protaetia is a genus of beetles of the Scarabeidae family. It originates in Asia.-References:"The...
  
  Burmeister, 1842
• Pseudourbania Mikšič, 1965
• Tropinota Mulsant, 1842
• Urbania Mikšič, 1963

Subtribus Leucocelina

• Homothyrea Kolbe, 1895
• Leucocelis Burmeister, 1842
• Oxythyrea
  Oxythyrea
  Genus Oxythyrea consists of a number of chafer beetle species. Members are typically about 0.5" in size, and are usually black with white dots or lines on the thorax, elytra, and abdomen. A particular pattern of dots is peculiar to the species. Oxythyrea beetles are active during the day, and are...
  
  Mulsant, 1842
• Paleira Reiche, 1871
• Agestrata Eschscholtz, 1829
• Anthracophora Burmeister, 1842
• Dischista
• Gametis Burmeister, 1842
• Glycyphana Burmeister, 1842
• Ichnestoma Gory & Percheron
• Pachnoda
  Pachnoda
  Pachnoda is a genus from the subfamily Cetoniinae with nearly all the of species living in Africa.The limit of the genus is given by the presence of internal lobes in their aedeagi.- Most common species :* Pachnoda marginata...
  
  Burmeister, 1842
• Polybaphes Kirby, 1827
• Stalagmosoma Burmeister, 1842

Subtribus Cremastocheilini Burmeister & Schaum, 1841

• Centrochilus Krikken, 1976
• Cremastocheilus Knoch, 1801
• Genuchinus Westwood, 1874
• Lissomelas Bates, 1889
• Psilocnemis Burmeister, 1842
• Campsiura Hope, 1831

Tribus Goliathini

• Amaurodes Westwood, 1844
• Aphanochroa Kolbe, 1893
• Aphelorrhina Westwood, 1841
• Argyropheges Kraatz, 1895
• Asthenorella Westwood, 1874
• Asthenorrhina Westwood, 1843
• Brachymitra Kolbe, 1904
• Ceratorrhina Westwood, 1843
• Cheirolasia Westwood
• Chelorrhina
  Chelorrhina
  Chelorrhina is a genus of African scarab beetle in the subfamily Cetoniinae, the flower chafers. the genus includes only three species:*Chelorrhina kraatzi *Chelorrhina polyphemus *Chelorrhina savagei...
  
  Burmeister, 1842
• Chondrorrhina Kraatz, 1880
• Chordodera Burmeister, 1842
• Coelorrhina Burmeister, 1842
• Compsocephalus White, 1845
• Cyprolais Burmeister, 1842
• Daedycorrhina Bates, 1888
• Dicellachilus Waterhouse, 1905
• Dicronocephalus Hope, 1837
• Dicronorrhina
  Dicronorrhina
  Dicronorrhina is a genus of beetles belonging to the Scarabaeidae family, Cetoniinae subfamily.-Description:The species of the genus Dicronorrhina reach about of length. The basic The basic colour of the body is metallic green, with white stripes in some species. The male has a "T"-shaped, flat...
  
  Hope, 1837
• Dyspilophora Kraatz, 1880
• Eudicella White, 1839
• Eutelesmus Waterhouse, 1880
• Fornasinius Berteloni, 1853
• Genyodonta Burmeister, 1842
• Gnorimimelus Kaatz, 1880
• Goliathus
  Goliathus
  The Goliath beetles are among the largest insects on Earth, if measured in terms of size, bulk and weight. They are members of subfamily Cetoniinae, within the family Scarabaeidae. Goliath beetles can be found in many of Africa's tropical forests, where they feed primarily on tree sap and fruit...
  
  Lamarck, 1801
• Hegemus J. Thomson, 1881
• Inhambane Péringuey, 1907
• Mecynorhina
  Mecynorhina
  Mecynorhina are beetles from the subfamily Cetoniinae, tribe Goliathini. The genus was created by Hope, in 1837.According to the last work of De Palma & Frantz, the type species of the genus is Scarabaeus polyphemus Fabricius, 1781.The genus is spread throughout the tropical African region.-...
  
  Hope, 1837
• Megalorhina Westwood, 1847
• Melinesthes Kraatz, 1880
• Neptunides J. Thomson, 1879
• Pedinorrhina Kraatz, 1880
• Plaesiorrhina Burmeister, 1842
• Priscorrhina Krikken, 1984
• Ptychodesthes Kraatz, 1883
• Raceloma J. Thomson, 1877
• Ranzania Berteloni, 1855
• Scythropesthes Kraatz, 1880
• Smaragdesthes Kraatz, 1880
• Smicorhina Westwood, 1847
• Spelaiorrhina Lansberge, 1886
• Stephanocrates Kolbe, 1892
• Stephanorrhina Burmeister, 1842
• Taeniesthes Kraatz, 1880
• Taurhina Burmeister, 1842

Tribus Gymnetini

• Amithao
• Argyripa
• Balsameda
• Chiriquibia
• Cotinis Gory & Percheron, 1883
• Guatemalica
• Gymnetina Casey, 1915
• Gymnetis MacLeay, 1819
• Gymnetosoma Martínez, 1949
• Hadrosticta
• Halffterinetis Morón and Nogueira, 2007
• Hologymnetis Martínez, 1949
• Hoplopyga
• Marmarina
• Neocorvicoana Ratcliffe & Micó

Tribus Heterorrhinini

• Heterorrhina
• Pseudotorynorrhina
• Rhomborrhina
  Rhomborrhina
  Rhomborrhina is a genus of large scarab beetles. They are members of the subfamily Cetoniinae. They mostly live in East and South Asia.- External links :* from China* from Taiwan...
  
  

Tribus Schizorhinini

• Aphanesthes Kraatz, 1880
• Bisallardiana Antoine, 2003
• Chalcopharis Heller, 1901
• Chlorobapta Kraatz, 1880
• Chondropyga Kraatz, 1880
• Clithria Burmeister, 1842
• Diaphonia Newman, 1840
• Dichrosoma Kraatz, 1885
• Dilochrosis Thomson, 1878
• Eupoecila Burmeister, 1842
• Hemichnoodes Kraatz, 1880
• Hemipharis Burmeister, 1842
• Ischiopsopha
  Ischiopsopha
  Ischiopsopha are beetles from the subfamily Cetoniinae, tribe Schizorhinini. The genus was created by Raffaello Gestro in 1874. The type species of the genus is Cetonia bifasciata Quoy & Gaimard, 1824. These cetoniids have the tip of the scutellum visible...
  
  Gestro, 1874
• Lenosoma Kraatz, 1880
• Lomaptera
  Lomaptera
  Lomaptera are beetles from the subfamily Cetoniinae, tribe Schizorhinini. The genus was created by Gory & Percheron, in 1833. The type species of the genus is Cetonia papua Guérin-Méneville, 1830...
  
  Gory & Percheron, 1833
• Lyraphora Kraatz, 1880
• Macrotina Strand, 1934
• Metallesthes Kraatz, 1880
• Micropoecila Kraatz, 1880
• Mycterophallus Van de Poll, 1886
• Neoclithria Van de Poll, 1886
• Neorrhina J. Thomson, 1878
• Phyllopodium Schoch, 1895
• Poecilopharis
  Poecilopharis
  Poecilopharis are beetles from the subfamily Cetoniinae, tribu Schizorhinini. The genus was created by Ernst Gustav Kraatz in 1880. The type of the genus is the species Schizorhina bouruensis Wallace, 1867....
  
  Kraatz, 1880
• Pseudoclithria Van de Poll, 1886
• Schizorhina Kirby, 1825
• Schochidia Berg, 1898
• Stenopisthes Moser, 1913
• Tapinoschema Thomson, 1880
• Trichaulax Kraatz, 1880

Tribus Trichiini Fleming, 1821

• Osmoderma
  Osmoderma
  Osmoderma is a genus of beetle in family Scarabaeidae. It contains the following species:* Osmoderma brevipenne* Osmoderma caelestis* Osmoderma coriarium* Osmoderma cristinae* Osmoderma dallieri* Osmoderma davidis...
  
  Lepeletier & Serville, 1825
• Agnorimus Miyake et alii, 1991
• Apeltastes Howden, 1968
• Gnorimella Casey, 1915
• Gnorimus Lepeletier & Serville, 1825
• Trichiotinus Casey, 1915
• Trichius Fabricius, 1787
• Trigonopeltastes Burmeister, 1840

Tribus Valgini Mulsant, 1842

• Chromovalgus Kolbe, 1897
• Microvalgus Kraatz, 1883
• Valgus
  Valgus (genus)
  Valgus is a genus of beetles. Most described species are found in Asia, with some reaching into northern Africa and Europe, and three species native to the New World...
  
  L.G.Scriba, 1790

Other

• Anelaphinis Kolbe 1912
• Caelorrhina
• Coilodera
• Conradtia
• Costinota
• Epitrichius Tagawa, 1941
• Gnathocera
• Heteroclita Burmeister, 1842
• Ischnostomiella Krikken, 1978
• Lansbergia Ritsema 1888
• Protoclita Krikken, 1978
• Pygora
  Pygora
  Pygora may refer to:*Pygora Goat or its fleece*Pygora beetle...
  
  
• Rhabdotis
  Rhabdotis
  Rhabdotis is a genus of the family Cetoniidae.It differs from Pachnoda by having the anterior edge of the clypeus tucked in and bilobed, a more elongated and oblique mesosternal projection, and a shiny green elytra punctate, striated and decorated with white dots and dashes.- List of the described...
  
  

External links

• The Cetoniid (Flower) Beetles of the World Extra detailed specimen photobook 2009

• 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.