Phyllophaga

Phyllophaga
Phyllophaga
Common Phyllophaga found in Michigan
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Tribe: Melolonthini
Genus: Phyllophaga
Harris, 1827
Species

> 900

Phyllophaga is a very large genus (more than 900 species) of New World scarab beetles in the subfamily Melolonthinae. Common names for this genus and many other related genera in the subfamily Melolonthinae are May beetles, June bugs, and July beetles.[1][2] They range in size from 12 to 35 mm (0.47 to 1.38 in)[1][2] and are blackish or reddish-brown in colour, without prominent markings, and often rather hairy ventrally. These beetles are nocturnal, and are attracted to artificial lights in great numbers.

The generic name is derived from the Greek words phyllon (φυλλον), which means "leaf", and phagos (φαγος), which means "eater", with a plural ending.[2]

  1. ^ a b enature. "May Beetles Cycle". Archived from the original on 2011-06-16. Retrieved 2010-12-10.
  2. ^ a b c BugGuide. "Genus Phyllophaga - May Beetles - BugGuide.Net". Iowa State University. Retrieved 2010-12-10.