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.
Taxonomy
It was published by Pierre François Marie Auguste Dejean in 1821. It is the type genus of the tribe Cyclocephalini.
Selected species
This is a large genus and new species continue to be added.
Etymology
The generic name Cyclocephala means "round head".
Ecology
Pollination
Flowers of Nymphaea subg. Hydrocallis are pollinated by Cyclocephala beetles. Likewise, flowers of Victoria are pollinated by Cyclocephala.
Predation
Several species of Cyclocephala serve as hosts for the parasitic larvae of the South American robber fly Mallophora ruficauda, especially C. signaticollis.
Herbivory
The larvae are root feeders.
See also
- List of Cyclocephala species
References
Further reading
