Phyllophaga prunina
(LeConte, 1856)
May beetle, June beetle
Phyllophaga prunina is a of scarab beetle in the Scarabaeidae, commonly known as a May beetle or June beetle. It belongs to one of the most species-rich of beetles in North America, with over 400 species. Like other members of the genus, it is likely and attracted to lights, with larvae developing as white in soil feeding on plant roots. The species is found across a broad swath of the central and eastern United States.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Phyllophaga prunina: //fɪˈloʊ.fə.ɡə pruːˈnaɪ.nə//
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Identification
-level identification within Phyllophaga is notoriously difficult and typically requires examination of male and female genitalia. Phyllophaga prunina is one of over 400 North American species in this , and external morphological characters for reliable field identification are not documented in available sources.
Images
Distribution
Recorded from Alabama, Colorado, Georgia, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Ohio, Texas, and Wisconsin in the United States. The occurs in the Nearctic region of North America.
Similar Taxa
- Phyllophaga cribrosaBoth are flightless Phyllophaga with reduced abilities, but P. cribrosa is readily distinguished by its oval convex shape, shining black coloration, cribrose (sieve-like) elytral surface, and distinct longitudinal elytral furrows
- Phyllophaga lanceolataBoth are -active Phyllophaga , but P. lanceolata is distinguished by its conspicuous covering of and occurrence in shortgrass prairie of the Great Plains