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SHINING LEAF CHAFERS

SCARABAEIDAE: RUTELINAE

T

he shining leaf chafers (Rutelinae) are closely

related to the rhinoceros beetles (Dynastinae),

although they tend to be more metallic and fewer

species have horns in the male. Their larvae are the

typical C-shaped, white grubs of Scarabaeoidea,

and feed in the soil on roots, or in compost or

decaying wood usually on the ground. Adults fly,

feeding on leaves. Many species are nocturnal and

attracted to artificial light. The tribe

Anomalini includes the huge genera

Anomala and Mimela, which are very

species-rich, especially in tropical

Asia, and can be difficult to

identify, requiring dissection.

A few species are pests,

for example the Japanese

beetle Popillia japonica was

introduced to North

America in the early

twentieth century and

rapidly established, attacking

the leaves and flowers, and the

larvae the roots of garden

plants. It has now also reached

parts of Europe. However, most

Rutelinae live harmlessly in the world’s

tropical forests, and some are much sought

SCARABAEIDAE: RUTELINAE

subfamily

Rutelinae

known species

4,000

distribution

Worldwide except Antarctica, most

abundant in the tropics

habitat

Tropical forests, plains, pastures, sand dunes

size

5–60 mm

diet

Adults feed on leaves or petals, larvae

are saprophagous in soil, leaf litter, or

dead wood

notes

The metallic coloration of adults of some

shining leaf chafers is not a pigment, but a

structural color caused by multilayer reflection

of light by microscopic structures in the

exoskeleton. This means that the color doesn’t

fade after death, and specimens in collections

retain their metallic sheen. It is initially difficult

below | Macraspis chrysis From

Venezuela, this beetle develops as

a larva in dead wood. Macraspis

means “big shield,” referring to

the large scutellum.