Cockchafers
Guides
Melolonthinae
June Beetles, June bugs, cockchafers, May beetles
Melolonthinae is a large and diverse subfamily of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) containing over 11,000 species in more than 750 genera, distributed worldwide. Adults range from 3 to 58 mm in length and are typically brown or black, often with setae or scales. The subfamily includes economically important pests such as the Melolontha cockchafers and Phyllophaga May beetles, whose larvae feed on plant roots while adults feed on foliage or may be non-feeding. Many species exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism in antennae, with males bearing large lamellate antennae to detect female sex pheromones.