Maladera

Mulsant, 1871

Species Guides

2

Maladera is a large of scarab beetles in the Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae, tribe Sericini. The genus contains over 200 , with exceptional diversity in China where 224 valid species have been recorded. Several species are significant agricultural pests, including (Asiatic garden beetle) and Maladera formosae, which have been introduced to North America where they damage ornamental plants, vegetables, and turfgrass. The genus has a primarily Palaearctic distribution with extensions into eastern Asia.

Maladera formosae by (c) Katja Schulz, some rights reserved (CC BY). Used under a CC-BY license.Maladera formosae on Murraya paniculata leaf by Quangkhanhhuynh. Used under a CC BY-SA 4.0 license.Melolonthinae beetle (9653369667) by harum.koh from Kobe city, Japan. Used under a CC BY-SA 2.0 license.

Pronunciation

How to pronounce Maladera: //mæləˈdɛrə//

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Images

Distribution

Primarily Palaearctic; exceptionally diverse in China with 224 recorded . Several species introduced to North America: established from Canada to Florida and west to the Mississippi River; Maladera formosae present in commercial agricultural systems. Maladera holosericea recorded from Europe through Siberia (to Lake Baikal), Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Korea, and China, with recent detection in Belarus.

Human Relevance

Several are economically important pests. (Asiatic garden beetle), introduced to North America before 1921, damages over 100 species of ornamental plants and vegetables including corn; larvae (white ) feed on roots of turfgrass and herbaceous plants, with densities reaching 100 per square foot in heavy . Maladera formosae infests commercial mint and corn-soybean systems. Maladera holosericea is an emerging pest of sugar beet in Belarus, requiring intervention.

Similar Taxa

  • AnomalaBoth contain small to medium-sized scarab beetles with similar body plans and include known as 'Oriental beetle' or 'garden '; feed on leaves and flowers while larvae are root-feeding white . Anomala orientalis and are frequently discussed together as turf and ornamental pests in North America.
  • PopilliaShares scarab beetle and white larval ; Popillia japonica (Japanese beetle) and (Asiatic garden beetle) are co-occurring pests with similar damage patterns on ornamental plants and turf, though cause characteristic skeletonization while remove larger tissue sections.

More Details

Taxonomic complexity

The Maladera has undergone extensive taxonomic revision. A 2021 monograph of Chinese established 152 new species, 9 new combinations, and 17 new synonyms, with subgenera including Omaladera. Previous generic assignments (Autoserica, Serica, Cephaloserica, Coronoserica) have been synonymized or transferred.

Invasive history

was first detected in New Jersey in 1921, following the earlier arrival of in 1916. The is strongly attracted to light, a that facilitates detection but also leads to nuisance encounters with humans. Spread has been facilitated by favorable soil moisture conditions that improve and larval survival.

Sources and further reading