Flower chafer Last updated August 28, 2025 Subfamily of beetles
Flower chafers are a group of scarab beetles comprising the subfamily Cetoniinae . Many species are diurnal and visit flowers for pollen and nectar , or to browse on the petals. Some species also feed on fruit . The group is also called fruit and flower chafers , flower beetles and flower scarabs . There are around 4,000 species, many of them still undescribed.
Ten tribes are presently recognized: Cetoniini , Cremastocheilini , Diplognathini , Goliathini , Gymnetini , Phaedimini , Schizorhinini , Stenotarsiini , Taenioderini , and Xiphoscelidini . The former tribes Trichiini and Valgini were elevated in rank to subfamily. [ 1] [ 2] The tribe Gymnetini is the biggest of the American tribes, and Goliathini contains the largest species, and is mainly found in the rainforest regions of Africa .
Description Adult flower chafers are usually brightly coloured beetles, often metallic, and somewhat flattened in shape. The insertions of the antennae are visible from above, while the mandibles and labrum are hidden by the clypeus . The elytra lack a narrow membranous margin and are truncate to expose the pygidium . The abdominal spiracles are diverging so that several lie on the abdominal sternites with at least one exposed. The fore coxae are conical and produced ventrally, while the mid coxae are transverse or only slightly oblique. The mesothoracic epimera is visible from above. The tarsi are each equipped with a pair of simple (not forked) tarsal claws of subequal size. [ 3] [ 4]
A feature possessed by adults of many flower chafers, especially Cetoniini, is lateral emargination of the elytra. [ 5]
Larvae are stout-bodied and very hairy with short legs. The head is partly covered by the prothorax . Each antenna has the apical segment as wide as the penultimate segment. The galea and lacinia are used to form a mala. The anal cleft is transverse. The mandible has a ventral stridulating area. The labrum is symmetrical with a deeply pigmented notch on each side of the midline. [ 3]
Biology Adult cetoniines are herbivorous , being found on flowers (from which they consume nectar and pollen), tree sap and rotting fruit. Larvae generally live and feed in decaying plant matter (including decaying wood) or soil. In captivity, cetoniine larvae will feed on soft fruit. [ 3] [ 4]
Many species in the tribe Cremastocheilini are known to be predaceous, feeding on hymenopteran larvae or soft-bodied nymphs of Auchenorrhyncha . Spilophorus spp. have been noted feeding on the nesting material and excrement of South African passerine birds, [ 6] while Spilophorus maculatus has been recorded feeding on Oxyrhachis tarandus nymphs [ 7] and Hoplostomus fuligineus is known to feed on the brood of honey bees in South Africa and the pupae of the wasp Belonogaster petiolata . Campsiura javanica feeds on the larvae of Ropalidia montana in southern India. [ 8] Cremastocheilus stathamae feeds on ants of the genus Myrmecocystus . [ 9]
In terms of movement, adults are considered some of the best flyers among beetles. They can hover above and land on flowers or fruit. When threatened by predators, they escape by either performing a rush take off or by falling toward the ground and then flying before impact. Many cetoniines fly with their elytra closed, as their hindwings can unfold and slide out under the elytra during flight (thanks to the emargination of the elytra). [ 5]
Larvae of some taxa can crawl on their backs using their tergal folds, which are covered in strong bristles. Others crawl on their legs. [ 3] [ 5]
Systematics and taxonomy Mecynorhina ugandensis Protaetia cuprea ignicollis Ischnoscelis hoepfneri Gymnetis stellata The following list contains the genera and subtribes in ten tribes of subfamily Cetoniinae, according to Catalogue of Life and Scarabaeidae of the World (2023). [ 1]
Authority: Leach, 1815
Aethiessa Burmeister, 1842 Anatona Burmeister, 1842 Anelaphinis Kolbe, 1892 Aphelinis Antoine, 1987 Atrichelaphinis Kraatz, 1898 Atrichiana Distant, 1911 Badizoblax Thomson, 1877 Centrantyx Fairmaire, 1884 Cetonia Fabricius, 1775 Chewia Legrand, 2004 Chiloloba Burmeister, 1842 Cosmesthes Kraatz, 1880 Cosmiophaena Kraatz, 1898 Dischista Burmeister, 1842 Dolichostethus Kolbe, 1892 Elaphinis Burmeister, 1842 Enoplotarsus Lucas, 1859 Erlangeria Preiss, 1902 Gametis Burmeister, 1842 Gametoides Antoine, 2005 Glycosia Schoch, 1896 Glycyphana Burmeister, 1842 Gymnophana Arrow, 1910 Hemiprotaetia Mikšić, 1963 Heterocnemis Albers, 1852 Heterotephraea Antoine, 2002 Lorkovitschia Mikšić, 1968 Marmylida Thomson, 1880 Mireia Ruter, 1953 Niphobleta Kraatz, 1880 Pachnoda Burmeister, 1842 Pachnodoides Alexis & Delpont, 2002 Pachytephraea De Palma & Malec, 2020 Paleopragma Thomson, 1880 Paranelaphinis Antoine, 1988 Paraprotaetia Moser, 1907 Pararhabdotis Kraatz, 1899 Parastraella Antoine, 2005 Paraxeloma Holm, 1988 Parelaphinis Marais & Holm, 1989 Phaneresthes Kraatz, 1894 Phonotaenia Kraatz, 1880 Phoxomeloides Schoch, 1898 Podopholis Moser, 1915 Podopogonus Moser, 1917 Pogonopus Arrow, 1910 Polystalactica Kraatz, 1882 Protaetia Burmeister, 1842 Protaetiomorpha Mikšić, 1968 Pseudotephraea Kraatz, 1882 Reineria Mikšić, 1968 Rhabdotis Burmeister, 1842 Rhabdotops Krikken, 1981 Rhyxiphloea Burmeister, 1842 Ruteraetia Krikken, 1980 Simorrhina Kraatz, 1886 Somalibia Lansberge, 1882 Stalagmosoma Burmeister, 1842 Systellorrhina Kraatz, 1895 Tephraea Burmeister, 1842 Thyreogonia Reitter, 1898 Trichocephala Moser, 1916 Tropinota Mulsant, 1842 Walsternoplus Allsopp, Jákl & Rey, 2023 Xeloma Kraatz, 1881 Chlorixanthe Bates, 1889 Euphoria Burmeister, 1842 Acrothyrea Kraatz, 1882 Alleucosma Schenkling, 1921 Amaurina Kolbe, 1895 Analleucosma Antoine, 1989 Cyrtothyrea Kolbe, 1895 Discopeltis Burmeister, 1842 Grammopyga Kolbe, 1895 Heteralleucosma Antoine, 1989 Homothyrea Kolbe, 1895 Leucocelis Burmeister, 1842 Lonchothyrea Kolbe, 1895 Mausoleopsis Lansberge, 1882 Mecaspidiellus Antoine, 1997 Molynoptera Kraatz, 1897 Molynopteroides Antoine, 1989 Oxythyrea Mulsant, 1842 Paleira Reiche, 1871 Paralleucosma Antoine, 1989 Phoxomela Schaum, 1844 Pseudalleucosma Antoine, 1989 Pseudooxythyrea Baraud, 1985 Authority: Burmeister & Schaum, 1841
Aspilochilus Rojkoff, 2013 Aspilus Westwood, 1874 Protochilus Krikken, 1976 Arielina Rossi, 1958 Astoxenus Péringuey, 1907 Basilewskynia Schein, 1957 Coenochilus Schaum, 1841 Centrochilus Krikken, 1976 Clinterocera Motschulsky, 1857 Cremastocheilus Knoch, 1801 Cyclidiellus Krikken, 1976 Cyclidinus Westwood, 1874 Cyclidius MacLeay, 1838 Genuchinus Westwood, 1874 Lissomelas Bates, 1889 Paracyclidius Howden, 1971 Platysodes Westwood, 1874 Psilocnemis Burmeister, 1842 Cymophorus Kirby, 1827 Myrmecochilus Wasmann, 1900 Rhagopteryx Burmeister, 1842 Genuchus Kirby, 1825 Meurguesia Ruter, 1969 Problerhinus Deyrolle, 1864 Goliathopsis Janson, 1881 Heterogenius Moser, 1911 Pseudastoxenus Bourgoin, 1921 Chthonobius Burmeister, 1847 Lissogenius Schaum, 1844 Brachymacroma Kraatz, 1896 Campsiura Hope, 1831 Macromina Westwood, 1874 Pseudopilinurgus Moser, 1918 Nyassinus Westwood, 1879 Anatonochilus Péringuey, 1907 Oplostomus MacLeay, 1838 Placodidus Péringuey, 1900 Scaptobius Schaum, 1841 Callynomes Mohnike, 1873 Centrognathus Guérin-Méneville, 1840 Parapilinurgus Arrow, 1910 Periphanesthes Kraatz, 1880 Pilinurgus Burmeister, 1842 Priska Jákl, 2018 Spilophorus Westwood, 1848 Telochilus Krikken, 1975 Lecanoderus Kolbe, 1907 Trichoplus Burmeister, 1842 Pseudoscaptobius Krikken, 1976 Trogodes Boheman, 1857 Authority: Burmeister, 1842
Anoplocheilus MacLeay, 1838 Anthracophora Burmeister, 1842 Anthracophorides Moser, 1918 Apocnosoides Antoine, 2001 Charadronota Burmeister, 1842 Conradtia Kolbe, 1892 Diphrontis Gerstaecker, 1882 Diplognatha Gory & Percheron, 1833 Eriulis Burmeister, 1842 Hadrodiplognatha Kraatz, 1898 Heteropseudinca Valck Lucassen, 1933 Lamellothyrea Krikken, 1980 Metallopseudinca Valck Lucassen, 1933 Niphetophora Kraatz, 1883 Nselenius (Holm & Perissinotto, 2004) Odontorrhina Burmeister, 1842 Parapoecilophila Hauser, 1904 Phonopleurus Moser, 1919 Pilinopyga Kraatz, 1888 Porphyronota Burmeister, 1842 Pseudinca Kraatz, 1880 Stethopseudinca Valck Lucassen, 1933 Tetragonorrhina Kraatz, 1896 Trichostetha Burmeister, 1842 Triplognatha Krikken, 1987 Trymodera Gerstaecker, 1867 Uloptera Burmeister, 1842 Authority: Latreille, 1829
Dicronocephalus Hope, 1831 Platynocephalus Westwood, 1854 Fornasinius Bertoloni, 1852 Goliathus Lamarck, 1801 Hegemus Thomson, 1881 Hypselogenia Burmeister, 1840 Gariep Péringuey, 1907 Ichnestoma Gory & Percheron, 1833 Karooida Perissinotto, 2020 Mzansica Perissinotto, 2020 Anagnathocera Arrow, 1922 Anisorrhina Westwood, 1842 Asthenorhella Westwood, 1874 Asthenorhina Westwood, 1843 Bietia Fairmaire, 1898 Caelorrhina Hope, 1841 Cheirolasia Westwood, 1842 Chloresthia Fairmaire, 1905 Chlorocala Kirby, 1828 Chondrorrhina Kraatz, 1880 Compsocephalus White, 1845 Cosmiomorpha Saunders, 1852 Cyphonocephalus Westwood, 1842 Desfontainesia Alexis & Delpont, 1999 Dicellachilus Waterhouse, 1905 Dicheros Gory & Percheron, 1833 Dicronorhina Hope, 1837 Diphyllomorpha Hope, 1843 Dymusia Burmeister, 1842 Euchloropus Arrow, 1907 Eudicella White, 1839 Eutelesmus Waterhouse, 1880 Gnathocera Kirby, 1825 Gnorimimelus Kraatz, 1880 Hemiheterorrhina Mikšić, 1974 Herculaisia Seilliere, 1910 Heterorhina Westwood, 1842 Ingrisma Fairmaire, 1893 Ischnoscelis Burmeister, 1842 Jumnos Saunders, 1839 Lansbergia Ritsema, 1888 Lophorrhina Westwood, 1842 Lophorrhinides Perissinotto, Clennell & Beinhundner, 2019 Mawenzhena Alexis & Delpont, 2001 Mecynorhina Hope, 1837 Moseriana Ruter, 1965 Mystroceros Burmeister, 1842 Narycius Dupont, 1835 Neomystroceros Alexis & Delpont, 1998 Neophaedimus Lucas, 1870 Neoscelis Schoch, 1897 Pedinorrhina Kraatz, 1880 Plaesiorrhina Westwood, 1842 Petrovitzia Mikšić, 1965 Priscorrhina Krikken, 1984 Pseudodiceros Mikšić, 1974 Pseudotorynorrhina Mikšić, 1967 Ptychodesthes Kraatz, 1883 Raceloma Thomson, 1877 Rhamphorrhina Klug, 1855 Rhinarion Ruter, 1965 Rhomborhina Hope, 1837 Scythropesthes Kraatz, 1880 Smicorhina Westwood, 1847 Spelaiorrhina Lansberge, 1886 Stephanorrhina Burmeister, 1842 Taurhina Burmeister, 1842 Tmesorrhina Westwood, 1841 Torynorrhina Arrow, 1907 Trichoneptunides Legrand, 2001 Trigonophorinus Pouillaude, 1913 Trigonophorus Hope, 1831 Authority: Kirby, 1827
Blaesia Burmeister, 1842 Halffterinetis Morón & Nogueira, 2007 Allorrhina Burmeister, 1842 Amazula Kraatz, 1882 Amithao Thomson, 1878 Argyripa Thomson, 1878 Astroscara Schürhoff, 1937 Badelina Thomson, 1880 Balsameda Thomson, 1880 Chiriquibia Bates, 1889 Clinteria Burmeister, 1842 Clinteroides Schoch, 1898 Cotinis Burmeister, 1842 - (Green June Beetles) Desicasta Thomson, 1878 Guatemalica Neervoort Van De Poll, 1886 Gymnephoria Ratcliffe, 2019 Gymnetina Casey, 1915 Gymnetis MacLeay, 1819 Hadrosticta Kraatz, 1892 Heterocotinis Martinez, 1948 Hologymnetis Martinez, 1949 Hoplopyga Thomson, 1880 Hoplopygothrix Schürhoff, 1933 Howdenypa Arnaud, 1993 Jansonia Schürhoff, 1937 Macrocranius Schürhoff, 1935 Madiana Ratcliffe & Romé, 2019 Marmarina Kirby, 1827 Neocorvicoana Ratcliffe & Mico, 2001 Pseudoclinteria Kraatz, 1882 Stethodesma Bainbridge, 1840 Tiarocera Burmeister, 1842 Authority: Burmeister, 1842
Agestrata Eschscholtz, 1829 Ischiopsopha Gestro, 1874 Lomaptera Gory & Percheron, 1833 Macronota Hoffmannsegg, 1817 Megaphonia Schürhoff, 1933 Morokia Janson, 1905 Mycterophallus Neervoort Van De Poll, 1886 Thaumastopeus Kraatz, 1885 Anacamptorrhina Blanchard, 1842 Aphanesthes Kraatz, 1880 Aurum Hutchinson & Moeseneder, 2019 Axillonia Krikken, 2018 Bisallardiana Antoine, 2003 Chalcopharis Heller, 1902 Chlorobapta Kraatz, 1880 Chondropyga Kraatz, 1880 Clithria Burmeister, 1842 Diaphonia Newman, 1840 Dichrosoma Kraatz, 1885 Digenethle Thomson, 1877 Dilochrosis Thomson, 1878 Eupoecila Burmeister, 1842 Grandaustralis Hutchinson & Moeseneder, 2013 Hemichnoodes Kraatz, 1880 Hemipharis Burmeister, 1842 Kerowagia Delpont, 1996 Lenosoma MacLeay, 1863 Lyraphora Kraatz, 1880 Macrotina Strand, 1934 Metallesthes Kraatz, 1880 Microdilochrosis Jákl, 2009 Microlomaptera Kraatz, 1885 Micropoecila Kraatz, 1880 Navigator Moeseneder & Hutchinson, 2016 Neoclithria Neervoort Van De Poll, 1886 Neorrhina Thomson, 1878 Octocollis Moeseneder & Hutchinson, 2012 Panglaphyra Kraatz, 1880 Peotoxus Krikken, 1983 Poecilopharis Kraatz, 1880 Pseudoclithria Neervoort Van De Poll, 1886 Rigoutorum Hutchinson & Moeseneder, 2022 Schizorhina Kirby, 1825 Schochidia Berg, 1898 Stenopisthes Moser, 1913 Storeyus Hasenpusch & Moeseneder, 2010 Tafaia Valck Lucassens, 1939 Tapinoschema Thomson, 1880 Territonia Krikken, 2018 Trichaulax Kraatz, 1880 Authority: Kraatz, 1880
Anochilia Burmeister, 1842 Epistalagma Fairmaire, 1880 Chromoptilia Westwood, 1842 Descarpentriesia Ruter, 1964 Bricoptis Burmeister, 1842 Coptomia Burmeister, 1842 Coptomiopsis Pouillaude, 1919 Eccoptomia Kraatz, 1880 Euchilia Burmeister, 1842 Euryomia Burmeister, 1842 Heterocranus Bourgoin, 1919 Hiberasta Fairmaire, 1901 Hyphelithia Kraatz, 1880 Liostraca Burmeister, 1842 Micreuchilia Pouillaude, 1917 Micropeltus Blanchard, 1842 Pareuchilia Kraatz, 1880 Pygora Burmeister, 1842 Pyrrhopoda Kraatz, 1880 Vieuella Ruter, 1964 Doryscelis Burmeister, 1842 Epixanthis Burmeister, 1842 Hemiaspidius Krikken, 1982 Pararhynchocephala Paulian, 1991 Parepixanthis Kraatz, 1893 Pseudepixanthis Kraatz, 1880 Rhynchocephala Fairmaire, 1883 Subtribe Euchroeina Paulian & Descarpentries, 1982 Euchroea Burmeister, 1842 Heterophana Burmeister, 1842 Oxypelta Pouillaude, 1920 Pogoniotarsus Kraatz, 1880 Pogonotarsus Burmeister, 1842 Zebinus Fairmaire, 1894 Heterosoma Schaum, 1844 Plochilia Fairmaire, 1896 Bonoraella Ruter, 1978 Celidota Burmeister, 1842 Cyriodera Burmeister, 1842 Dirrhina Burmeister, 1842 Hemilia Kraatz, 1880 Lucassenia Olsoufieff, 1940 Melanchroea Kraatz, 1900 Moriaphila Kraatz, 1880 Pantolia Burmeister, 1842 Tetraodorhina Blanchard, 1842 Parachilia Burmeister, 1842 Callipechis Burmeister, 1842 Ischnotarsia Kraatz, 1880 Rhadinotaenia Kraatz, 1900 Stenotarsia Burmeister, 1842 Vadonidella Ruter, 1973 Authority: Mikšić, 1976
Anocoela Moser, 1914 Chalcothea Burmeister, 1842 Chalcotheomima Mikšić, 1970 Clerota Burmeister, 1842 Glyptothea Bates, 1889 Glyptotheomima Mikšić, 1976 Hemichalcothea Mikšić, 1970 Microchalcothea Moser, 1910 Paraplectrone Mikšić, 1985 Penthima Kraatz, 1892 Plectrone Wallace, 1867 Pseudochalcothea Ritsema, 1882 Pseudochalcotheomima Mikšić, 1985 Bacchusia Mikšić, 1976 Bombodes Westwood, 1848 Carneluttia Mikšić, 1976 Coilodera Hope, 1831 Costinota Schürhoff, 1933 Eumacronota Mikšić, 1976 Euremina Westwood, 1867 Euselates Thomson, 1880 Gnorimidia Lansberge, 1887 Ixorida Thomson, 1880 Macronotops Krikken, 1977 Meroloba Thomson, 1880 Pleuronota Kraatz, 1892 Stenonota Fairmaire, 1889 Taeniodera Burmeister, 1842 Xenoloba Bates, 1889 Authority: Krikken, 1984
Aporecolpa Lansberge, 1886 Callophylla Moser, 1916 Heteroclita Burmeister, 1842 Ischnostomiella Krikken, 1978 Meridioclita Krikken, 1982 Myodermidius Bourgoin, 1920 Neoclita Perissinotto, 2017 Oroclita Krikken, 1982 Plochiliana Ruter, 1978 Protoclita Krikken, 1978 Rhinocoeta Burmeister, 1842 Scheinia Ruter, 1957 Xiphoscelis Burmeister, 1842 Xiphosceloides Holm, 1992 References 1 2 "Cetoniinae Leach, 1815" . Catalogue of Life . Retrieved 2023-09-24 . ↑ Bouchard, P.; Bousquet, Y.; Davies, A.; Alonso-Zarazaga, M.; Lawrence, J.; Lyal, C.; Newton, A.; Reid, C.; Schmitt, M.; Ślipiński, A.; Smith, A. (2011). "Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta)" . ZooKeys (88): 1– 972. Bibcode :2011ZooK...88....1B . doi : 10.3897/zookeys.88.807 . PMC 3088472 . PMID 21594053 . 1 2 3 4 "Australian Faunal Directory" . biodiversity.org.au . Retrieved 2022-12-08 . 1 2 "Subfamily Cetoniinae - Fruit and Flower Chafers" . bugguide.net . Retrieved 2022-12-08 . 1 2 3 Šípek, Petr; Fabrizi, Silvia; Eberle, Jonas; Ahrens, Dirk (2016). "A molecular phylogeny of rose chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) reveals a complex and concerted morphological evolution related to their flight mode" . Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution . 101 : 163– 175. Bibcode :2016MolPE.101..163S . doi :10.1016/j.ympev.2016.05.012 . PMID 27165937 . ↑ Shipley, A. E.; Marshall, Guy A. K., eds. (1910). The Fauna of British India 201. ↑ Ghorpade, K.D. (1975). "A remarkable predacious cetoniid, Spilophorus maculatus (Gory & Percheron), from southern India (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)". The Coleopterists Bulletin . 29 (4): 226– 230. doi :10.5962/p.372723 . JSTOR 3999660 . ↑ Jeanne, Robert L. & J. H. Hunt (1992). "Beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) in a social wasp nest (Hymenoptera, Vespidae) in India" (PDF) . Entomologist's Monthly Magazine . 128 : 139– 141. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2014-10-28 . ↑ Cazier, M.A. & Marjorie Statham (1962). "The behaviour and habits of the myrmecophilous scarab, Cremastocheilus stathamae Cazier, with notes on other species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)". J. New York Entomol. Soc . 70 : 125– 149. ↑ Bouchard, Patrice; Bousquet, Yves; Davies, Anthony E.; Alonso-Zarazaga, Miguel A.; Lawrence, John F.; Lyal, Chris H. C.; Newton, Alfred F.; Reid, Chris A. M.; Schmitt, Michael; Ślipiński, S. Adam; Smith, Andrew B. T. (2011). "Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta)" . ZooKeys (88): 1– 972. Bibcode :2011ZooK...88....1B . doi : 10.3897/zookeys.88.807 . PMC 3088472 . PMID 21594053 . External links Wikimedia Commons has media related to
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