| Cyclocephala | |
|---|---|
| | |
| Western masked chafer ( Cyclocephala hirta ) | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Suborder: | Polyphaga |
| Infraorder: | Scarabaeiformia |
| Family: | Scarabaeidae |
| Subfamily: | Dynastinae |
| Genus: | Cyclocephala Dejean, 1821 |
| Species | |
Many, see text | |
| Synonyms [1] | |
| |
Cyclocephala is a genus of scarab beetles from the subfamily Dynastinae (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae). Beetles of this genus occur from southeastern Canada to Argentina, India and the West Indies.
Adults of this genus are nocturnal or crepuscular, and are usually attracted to lights. [1]
It was published by Pierre François Marie Auguste Dejean in 1821. [2] [3] It is the type genus of the tribe Cyclocephalini. [4]
This is a large genus and new species continue to be added. [1]
The generic name Cyclocephala means "round head". [2]
Flowers of Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis are pollinated by Cyclocephala beetles. [5] [6] Likewise, flowers of Victoria are pollinated by Cyclocephala. [7]
Several species of Cyclocephala serve as hosts for the parasitic larvae of the South American robber fly Mallophora ruficauda , especially C. signaticollis. [8]
The larvae are root feeders. [2]