Phyllophaga and Related Species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Collected in Black-light Traps in Alabama Pastures

Abstract

This study reports the occurrence of the adults of Phyllophaga spp. and other major scarab species in three different geographic regions of Alabama. Thirty-three species of Phyllophaga were found during the trapping study. Five species accounted for 97% of the specimens of Phyllophaga trapped in Marion Junction: P. crinita (Burmeister), P. forbesi (Glasgow), P. hirtiventris (Horn), P. mississippiensis Davis, and P. perlonga Davis. Two species accounted for 55% of the specimens trapped in Camp Hill: P. micans (Knoch) and P. hirticula (Knoch). At Winfield, P. crenulata (Froelich), P. ephilida (Say), P. latifrons LeConte, P. micans, and P. quercus (Knoch) were the most abundant species, making up 49% of the specimens. Of these 11 most abundant species, 5 species were collected in spring (March, April and/or May): P. crenulata, P. hirticula, P. micans, P. mississippiensis, and P. perlonga. Phyllophaga hirtiventris adults were collected in late May–June. Adults of P. crinita were collected in June and early July, and were abundant in each year, suggesting that the species has an annual life cycle in Alabama. Phyllophaga ephilida, P. forbesi, P. forbesi, P. latifrons and P. quercus adults were collected in mid-summer (June, July and/or August). Six species of Phyllophaga found during this study have not been previously reported from Alabama: P. bipartita Horn, P. congrua (LeConte), P. hirtiventris, P. mississippiensis, P. praetermissa (Horn), and P. soror Davis. Cyclocephala lurida Bland, Dyscinetus morator (F.), Euetheola humilis rugiceps (LeConte), and Ligyrus gibbosus gibbosus (DeGeer), other potential pests of grasses, were abundant in the black-light traps. The dung beetle, Onthophagus gazella F., an African species that was purposely introduced into the United States, was abundant at all three sites.