Melolonthinae
Guides
Polyphylla anteronivea
Saline Valley Snow-front June Beetle, Saline Valley Snow-front Scarab
Polyphylla anteronivea is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Hardy in 1978. It belongs to the genus Polyphylla, commonly known as lined June beetles, which are characterized by their large size and distinctive antennae. The species is known from limited observations in North America, specifically from California.
Polyphylla barbata
Mount Hermon June Beetle
Polyphylla barbata is a federally endangered scarab beetle endemic to a single restricted locality in the Zayante sandhills of Santa Cruz County, California. The species occupies less than 1,500 acres of habitat, making it one of the most geographically limited beetles in North America. Adults are active in mid-summer, with males flying at dusk to locate flightless females using pheromone-detecting antennae. The species faces severe habitat loss from sand mining and development, with over 40% of its sandhills habitat already destroyed.
Polyphylla cavifrons
Polyphylla cavifrons is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, including Arizona, California, Nevada, and Baja California. The species belongs to a genus known for large-bodied beetles with fan-like antennae in males, though specific details about this species' biology remain limited in published literature.
Polyphylla comes
High Mountain June Beetle
Polyphylla comes is a large scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as the High Mountain June Beetle. It belongs to a genus noted for males with enlarged, fan-like antennae used to detect female sex pheromones. The species occurs in the southeastern United States. Like other Polyphylla species, it is primarily nocturnal and attracted to lights.
Polyphylla crinita
Long-haired June Beetle
Polyphylla crinita, commonly known as the Long-haired June Beetle, is a large scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is distinguished from closely related species by the presence of setae (hair) on the pronotum. The species occurs in western North America, with records from California north to British Columbia and east to Wyoming, as well as in Baja California, Mexico. Like other members of the genus Polyphylla, males are attracted to lights at night and possess enlarged, fan-like antennae used to detect female sex pheromones.
Polyphylla decemlineata
Ten-lined June Beetle, Watermelon Beetle
Polyphylla decemlineata is a large scarab beetle native to western North America, commonly known as the Ten-lined June Beetle or Watermelon Beetle. Adults are notable for their distinctive ten white stripes on dark elytra and greatly enlarged, fan-like antennae in males. The species is strongly attracted to lights and exhibits distinctive pheromone-mediated mating behavior where males actively search for flightless females. Larvae develop underground, feeding on roots of grasses and other plants.
Polyphylla diffracta
diffracted lined June beetle
Polyphylla diffracta is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as a lined June beetle. It belongs to a genus characterized by large, robust beetles with distinctive fan-like antennae in males. The species occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other Polyphylla species, males are attracted to lights at night and use their enlarged, lamellate antennae to detect female sex pheromones.
Polyphylla donaldsoni
Donaldson's lined June beetle
Polyphylla donaldsoni is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Skelley in 2003. It is a member of the lined June beetle genus Polyphylla, which is most diverse in the southwestern United States. Adults are medium-sized beetles that closely resemble Polyphylla pubescens but can be distinguished by specific morphological features. The species has an extremely restricted distribution, known only from central Georgia.
Polyphylla gracilis
Slender Polyphyllan Scarab Beetle
Polyphylla gracilis is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as the slender polyphyllan scarab beetle. Adults measure 18.8–21.6 mm in length and are distinguished by a mottled elytral color pattern featuring a broad lateral stripe. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Florida, southeastern Alabama, and southwestern Georgia.
Polyphylla hammondi
Hammond's Lined June Beetle
Polyphylla hammondi is a large scarab beetle in the subfamily Melolonthinae. Adults measure 24.8–35.5 mm in length and are highly variable in coloration with almost no stripes or mottling. Males possess greatly enlarged, fan-like antennae used to detect female sex pheromones. The species is strongly associated with sand dune habitats across the Great Plains and southwestern North America. Males are attracted to lights at night and exhibit distinctive splayed-antennae behavior when actively searching for females. Females are rarely encountered and may be flightless.
Polyphylla monahansensis
Monahans ten-lined June beetle, Monahan's ten-lined June beetle
Polyphylla monahansensis is a large scarab beetle endemic to sand dune habitats of the southwestern United States and adjacent Mexico. Like other members of the genus, males possess greatly enlarged, fan-like antennae used to detect female sex pheromones. The species is nocturnal and attracted to lights, with males actively searching for flightless females after sunset. It is one of several Polyphylla species specialized to sandy environments in this region.
Polyphylla nigra
Polyphylla nigra is a scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Casey in 1914. It belongs to the genus Polyphylla, commonly known as lined June beetles, which are characterized by large body size and sexually dimorphic antennae. The species is distributed in western North America and parts of Mexico. Like other members of its genus, males likely possess enlarged, fan-like antennae used to detect female sex pheromones.
Polyphylla pottsorum
Polyphylla pottsorum is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is a member of the diverse genus Polyphylla, commonly known as lined June beetles, which are characterized by their large size and distinctive antennae. The species was described by Hardy in 1978.
Polyphylla pubescens
Eglin Uplands Scarab Beetle
Polyphylla pubescens is a rare, endemic scarab beetle restricted to the upland habitats of Eglin Air Force Base and adjacent inland areas in the Florida panhandle. Adults are moderately sized for the genus, with males measuring 17.5–19 mm and females slightly larger at 19–20 mm. The species is distinguished from congeners by a strong lateral elytral margin that extends to the base. Like other members of the genus Polyphylla, males possess greatly enlarged, fan-like antennae used to detect female sex pheromones, while females are likely flightless and remain buried in sandy substrates. The species is part of the pubescens species group within Polyphylla.
Polyphylla sobrina
Polyphylla sobrina is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as the ten-lined June beetle. It is native to western North America, with documented occurrences in California, Nevada, and Utah. The species belongs to a genus characterized by males with enlarged, fan-like antennae used to detect female sex pheromones. Research on this species has been notably challenging due to the extremely small quantities of its pheromone, which has resisted isolation and structural identification for decades.
Polyphylla uteana
Coral Pink Sand Dunes June Beetle
Polyphylla uteana is a large scarab beetle endemic to the Coral Pink Sand Dunes in southwestern Utah. Males possess exceptionally developed lamellate antennae with seven highly elongate plates that fan open to detect female pheromones. The species is nocturnal and attracted to ultraviolet light. Like other Polyphylla species, females are likely flightless and rarely encountered.
Rhizotrogini
Rhizotrogini is a tribe of scarab beetles within the subfamily Melolonthinae, established by Burmeister in 1855. The tribe contains genera distributed across the Palearctic region, including Europe, North Africa, and Asia. Several genera within Rhizotrogini contain species of agronomic importance, particularly in India where members are considered June beetles. The tribe has been subject to recent taxonomic revision, with species reclassified between genera and new species described from biogeographically significant regions such as Sardinia and Iran.
Serica anthracina
Serica anthracina is a small scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by LeConte in 1856. Adults measure 5–8.5 mm in length and exhibit variable coloration ranging from uniform testaceous to black. The species is distributed across western North America, from the Canadian prairies through the Rocky Mountain region to the Pacific coast.
Serica aspera
Serica aspera is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Dawson in 1921. It belongs to the genus Serica, a large and taxonomically challenging group of chafers commonly known as May beetles or June beetles. Adults are distinguished from close relatives by subtle morphological differences, particularly in antennal structure. The species has a restricted distribution in the southeastern United States.
Serica atracapilla
Serica atracapilla is a small scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, distributed across eastern and central North America. Adults measure approximately 10 mm in length and are characterized by their chestnut-brown coloration and polished, shining upper surface lacking any silky or pruinose luster. The species has been recorded from 19 U.S. states and 7 Canadian provinces, indicating a broad geographic range within the Nearctic region.
Serica campestris
Serica campestris is a small scarab beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Dawson in 1919. Adults measure approximately 8.5 mm in length and are characterized by their very dark mahogany coloration with a bare, polished, and shining upper surface that lacks any sericeous or pruinose luster. The species is known from a limited distribution in the central United States.
Serica vespertina
Serica vespertina is a small scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, measuring approximately 8.5 mm in length. It is characterized by its uniformly light brown, polished, and shining appearance. The species is distributed across North America, with two recognized subspecies showing distinct geographic ranges in the eastern and central United States.
Serica vespertina accola
Serica vespertina accola is a subspecies of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Dawson in 1921. It belongs to a genus of small, brownish beetles commonly known as May beetles or June beetles. The subspecies is documented from North America, though specific details about its biology and ecology remain limited in available sources.
Thyce
May beetles, junebugs
Thyce is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as May beetles or junebugs. The genus contains at least two described species: Thyce deserta and Thyce squamicollis. These beetles belong to the subfamily Melolonthinae, a diverse group of scarabs whose larvae typically develop in soil. Species in this genus are native to North America.
Thyce deserta
Thyce deserta is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. It was described by Hardy in 1974 and is known from California, USA. As a member of the genus Thyce, it belongs to a group of melolonthine scarabs found in western North America.
Warwickia
May beetles, junebugs
Warwickia is a genus of scarab beetles in the subfamily Melolonthinae, established in 2005. It contains one described species, Warwickia pilosa. The genus belongs to the tribe Warwickiini, which was erected to accommodate this taxon. Warwickia represents a relatively recent addition to the classification of New World scarab beetles.