8-6-2021 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - JUNE BEETLE (Anoxia australis)

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/245860-Anoxia-australis

 

20-6-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - JUNE BEETLE (Anoxia australis)

Melolonthinae is a subfamily of the scarab beetles (family Scarabaeidae). It is a very diverse group; distributed over most of the world, it contains over 11,000 species in over 750 genera. Some authors include the scarab subfamilies Euchirinae and Pachypodinae as tribes in the Melolonthinae.

Unlike some of their relatives, their habitus is usually not bizarre. They resemble the Rutelinae in being fairly plesiomorphic in outward appearance. Like in many Scarabaeidae, males have large fingered antennae, while those of the females are smaller and somewhat knobby. In the Melolonthinae, this sexual dimorphism is particularly pronounced. Many species have striking – though rarely brilliant or iridescent – hues and bold patterns of hairs.

Being often quite sizeable and swarming in numbers at certain times, for example the Amphimallon, Phyllophaga and Polyphylla "June beetles" or the Melolontha cockchafers – all from tribe Melolonthini – feature widely in folklore. Some Melolonthinae are economically significant pests. Other than the Melolonthini, the most diverse tribes are the Ablaberini, Liparetrini, Macrodactylini, Tanyproctini and Sericini.

26-5-2020 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - JUNE BEETLE (Anoxia australis)

Melolonthinae is a subfamily of the scarab beetles (family Scarabaeidae). It is a very diverse group; distributed over most of the world, it contains over 11,000 species in over 750 genera. Some authors include the scarab subfamilies Euchirinae and Pachypodinae as tribes in the Melolonthinae.

Unlike some of their relatives, their habitus is usually not bizarre. They resemble the Rutelinae in being fairly plesiomorphic in outward appearance. Like in many Scarabaeidae, males have large fingered antennae, while those of the females are smaller and somewhat knobby. In the Melolonthinae, this sexual dimorphism is particularly pronounced. Many species have striking – though rarely brilliant or iridescent – hues and bold patterns of hairs.

Being often quite sizeable and swarming in numbers at certain times, for example the Amphimallon, Phyllophaga and Polyphylla "June beetles" or the Melolontha cockchafers – all from tribe Melolonthini – feature widely in folklore. Some Melolonthinae are economically significant pests. Other than the Melolonthini, the most diverse tribes are the Ablaberini, Liparetrini, Macrodactylini, Tanyproctini and Sericini.

Melolonthinae adults range from 3 to 58 mm in length and are usually brown or black in colour. Some species are shiny, while many are covered in setae or scales. The clypeus, a structure on the head above the mouthparts, is not armed with teeth. There are two antennae, each with 7 to 10 segments, of which the last 3 to 7 segments are elongate and form a club, and the antennal bases are usually concealed from above. The scutellum is exposed at the base of the elytra. The margins of the elytra are straight instead of strongly curved. Each leg ends in a pair of tarsal claws that are often toothed or double.

Larvae are C-shaped with a white/cream body and a darker, well-sclerotised head. They can be distinguished from other scarabaeid larvae by the galea and lacinia either partly fused proximally or fitting tightly together, the mandibles lacking stridulatory areas, the apical segment of the antenna about as wide as its penultimate segment, and the anal cleft usually Y-shaped or angulate.

The Melolonthinae life cycle has the four stages of egg, larva, pupa and adult, similar to other beetles. Eggs are laid in soil, which is also where the larval and pupal stages occur. Adults occur above ground. The larval stage is long and may last up to two years, whereas the adult stage is short and lasts only a few days or weeks.

Larval melolonthines feed on plant roots and humus. Known host plants include grasses, clover and sugarcane. Adults may (e.g. Automolius, Diphucephala, Heteronyx, Liparetrus, Phyllotocus and Sericesthis) or may not feed (e.g. Antitrogus and Rhopaea). Adults that feed do so on the leaves of trees, such as eucalypts, or on flowers or pollen.

Adults are usually crepuscular or nocturnal, but the flower- and pollen-feeding species are often diurnal. They are often attracted to light.

In feeding species, adults gather on trees and this helps them find each other to mate. In non-feeding species, virgin females emit a sex pheromone so that males can find them.

Larvae of Sericesthis spp. are pasture pests, while larvae of Dermolepida albohirtum, Antitrogus and Lepidiota are sugarcane pests. Lepidiota stigma is another sugarcane pest and also attacks corn, sorghum and various fruits. Adults of Phyllophaga spp. can sometimes cause complete defoliation of deciduous trees.

4-7-2019 MONTE CORONA, VALENCIA - JUNE BEETLE (Anoxia australis)

Anoxia australis, commonly known as a "June beetle" or "escarabajo sanjuanero," is a species of beetle in the family Scarabaeidae found in southern and central Europe, including Spain and Portugal. It is a nocturnal or crepuscular insect, with adults feeding on the leaves of trees and the grubs damaging roots in the soil. While adult feeding is often minor, high populations can cause defoliation, and the larvae can damage plants, especially young or stressed trees. Appearance and life cycle Adults: Dark brown and black, oval-shaped beetles, around \(2.2-2.5\) mm long, with hardened wing shells and distinctive white and tan patterned setal bands on their larvae.Larvae: "Grub-like" and hairy, growing up to \(7\) mm long, and feeding on the roots of various plants and grasses.Life cycle: The life cycle is typically about four years. 

After mating, females lay eggs in the soil. The larvae overwinter underground, feed and grow during the following spring and summer, and repeat this process for several years before pupating. Habitat and feeding habits Habitat: Prefers warm, sandy areas and is found on a range of trees and shrubs, including oaks, pines, and ornamental plants.Adults: Primarily feed on the foliage of various trees.Larvae: Feed on the roots of host plants, which can include vegetables, fruit trees, vines, and olive trees. 

Damage and control Adults: Generally cause minor damage, but in high numbers, can cause significant defoliation.Larvae: Can damage the root systems of plants, stunting growth or, in severe cases, killing younger or stressed trees.Control: Control measures include chemical and biological agents, and managing populations in a way that doesn't harm the wider ecosystem. Behavioral characteristics Activity: Adults are active at dusk and dawn, flying to find mates.Flight: Attracted to light, they can be seen flying around lamps.Mating: Adults gather on trees to mate, and sometimes multiple males mate with a single female.Predators: Adults and larvae are preyed upon by other organisms, such as Carabid beetles.