Rutelinae

Rutelinae
Chrysina sp. Ex coll. Felix Stumpe
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Rutelinae
MacLeay, 1819
Tribes

Rutelinae or shining leaf chafers is a subfamily of the scarab beetles (family Scarabaeidae). It is a very diverse group; distributed over most of the world, it contains some 200 genera with over 4,000 described species in 7 tribes. Several taxa have yet to be described.[1] A few recent classifications include the tribe Hopliini, but this is not generally accepted.[2][3]

Description

Unlike some of their relatives, their habitus is usually lacking in ornamentation, such as horns. They resemble the Melolonthinae in being fairly plesiomorphic in outward appearance. Many species have brilliant or iridescent hues, however, such as the genus Chrysina, and a number of species are serious pests (e.g., the Japanese beetle).

Behavior

Feeding

Adult Rutelinae feed on leaves, flowers, and flower parts. Larvae feed on decaying wood, compost or roots.[1]

Tribes

Additionally the fossil genus Anomalites from the Priabonian Süßwasserquarz of Nogent-le-Rotrou France has been placed as incertae sedis in the subfamily.[4]

References

  1. ^ a b "Generic Guide to New World Scarab Beetles-Scarabaeidae-Rutelinae Overview". unsm-ento.unl.edu. Retrieved 2023-02-21.
  2. ^ "Generic Guide to New World Scarab Beetles-Scarabaeidae-Rutelinae Overview". museum.unl.edu. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  3. ^ "Shining leaf chafer". Encyclopedia Britannica. Retrieved 2018-08-15.
  4. ^ Krell, F.T. (2000). "The fossil record of Mesozoic and tertiary Scarabaeoidea (Coleoptera: Polyphaga)". Invertebrate Systematics. 14 (6): 871–905. doi:10.1071/IT00031.