Acoma
Casey, 1889
May beetles, Junebugs
Species Guides
8Acoma is a of scarab beetles in the Scarabaeidae, commonly known as May beetles and Junebugs. The genus was established by Casey in 1889 and contains at least 30 described . Acoma belongs to the tribe Acomini within the Melolonthinae. These beetles are part of the diverse scarab beetle fauna of North America.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Acoma: /æˈkoʊmə/
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Identification
Acoma are distinguished from other Melolonthinae by characteristics of the tribe Acomini. Specific morphological features distinguishing Acoma from closely related genera within Acomini are not well-documented in accessible sources. Members of this tribe are generally small to medium-sized scarab beetles with the typical of the Scarabaeidae.
Distribution
of Acoma are found in North America. Specific range details for the as a whole or individual species are not well-documented in the provided sources.
Seasonality
activity patterns typical of Melolonthinae scarabs suggest spring and early summer , consistent with the "May beetles" and "Junebugs." However, specific seasonality data for Acoma is not documented in available sources.
Ecological Role
As with other Melolonthinae scarabs, Acoma larvae likely function as soil-dwelling or root-feeders, contributing to nutrient cycling in soil . beetles may feed on foliage or other plant material, though specific ecological roles for Acoma are not documented.
Similar Taxa
- PhyllophagaAlso in Melolonthinae and commonly called May beetles or Junebugs; Phyllophaga is a much larger with over 900 and differs in tribal placement (Melolonthini vs. Acomini)
- SericaAnother Melolonthinae with similar ; Serica belongs to tribe Sericini and differs in morphological details of the and genitalia
More Details
Taxonomic Note
There is a discrepancy in assignment between sources: iNaturalist and Catalogue of Life place Acoma in Scarabaeidae ( Melolonthinae, tribe Acomini), while NCBI lists it in Pleocomidae. The Scarabaeidae placement is more widely accepted and follows the classification in Casey (1889) and subsequent scarab beetle taxonomy.
Species Diversity
At least 30 have been described in the , though comprehensive species lists and modern revisions are not readily available in the provided sources.