''Stethaspis'' is a genus of

beetles Beetles are insects that form the Taxonomic rank, order Coleoptera (), in the superorder Holometabola. Their front pair of wings are hardened into wing-cases, elytra, distinguishing them from most other insects. The Coleoptera, with about 40 ...

in the family

Scarabaeidae The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 35,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family has undergone significant change. Several groups formerly tre ...

, subfamily

Melolonthinae Melolonthinae is a subfamily of the Scarabaeidae, scarab beetles (family (biology), 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 ...

Description

Like other Melolonthinae, adult ''Stethaspis'' are oval and robust in shape. The antennae are relatively short and have the last few segments flattened and finger-like. The

elytra An elytron (; ; : elytra, ) is a modified, hardened forewing of beetles (Coleoptera), though a few of the true bugs (Hemiptera) such as the family Schizopteridae are extremely similar; in true bugs, the forewings are called hemelytra (sometime ...

leave the end of the

abdomen The abdomen (colloquially called the gut, belly, tummy, midriff, tucky, or stomach) is the front part of the torso between the thorax (chest) and pelvis in humans and in other vertebrates. The area occupied by the abdomen is called the abdominal ...

exposed. ''Stethaspis'' are green in colour and range from 13 to 24 mm in length. Larvae are creamy white with a prominent head, relatively large legs and a darkened posterior end (this darkening is due to the gut contents showing through the body wall). The body is curled up into a C-shape. When mature, ''Stethaspis'' larvae can be up to 45 mm long.

Ecology

Similar to other melolonthines, ''Stethaspis'' beetles feed on plant foliage as adults and plant roots as larvae. Adults are known to damage

Douglas fir The Douglas fir (''Pseudotsuga menziesii'') is an evergreen conifer species in the pine family, Pinaceae. It is the tallest tree in the Pinaceae family. It is native to western North America and is also known as Douglas-fir, Douglas spruce, Or ...

. Larvae of ''S. longicornis'' are eaten by Polynesian rats. Additionally, ''Stethaspis'' larvae are potential hosts for the introduced

scoliid The Scoliidae, the scoliid wasps, are a family of wasps comprising about 560 species worldwide. They tend to be black, often marked with yellow or orange, and their wing tips are distinctively corrugated. Males are more slender and elongated than ...

wasp '' Radumeris tasmaniensis,'' an

ectoparasitoid In evolutionary ecology, a parasitoid is an organism that lives in close association with its host at the host's expense, eventually resulting in the death of the host. Parasitoidism is one of six major evolutionary strategies within parasitism ...

of scarab larvae.

Life cycle

''Stethaspis'' follow the usual beetle life cycle of egg, larva, pupa and adult. The life cycle takes two years. Adults emerge en masse in summer.

Species

''Stethaspis'' contains the following species: * ''

Stethaspis convexa ''Stethaspis'' is a genus of beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. Description Like other Melolonthinae, adult ''Stethaspis'' are oval and robust in shape. The antennae are relatively short and have the last few segment ...

'' * ''

Stethaspis discoidea ''Stethaspis'' is a genus of beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. Description Like other Melolonthinae, adult ''Stethaspis'' are oval and robust in shape. The antennae are relatively short and have the last few segment ...

'' * ''

Stethaspis intermediata ''Stethaspis'' is a genus of beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. Description Like other Melolonthinae, adult ''Stethaspis'' are oval and robust in shape. The antennae are relatively short and have the last few segment ...

'' * ''

Stethaspis lineata ''Stethaspis'' is a genus of beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. Description Like other Melolonthinae, adult ''Stethaspis'' are oval and robust in shape. The antennae are relatively short and have the last few segment ...

'' * ''

Stethaspis longicornis ''Stethaspis'' is a genus of Beetle, beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. Description Like other Melolonthinae, adult ''Stethaspis'' are oval and robust in shape. The Antenna (biology), antennae are relatively short and ...

'' * ''

Stethaspis prasinus ''Stethaspis'' is a genus of beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. Description Like other Melolonthinae, adult ''Stethaspis'' are oval and robust in shape. The antennae are relatively short and have the last few segment ...

'' * ''

Stethaspis pulchra ''Stethaspis'' is a genus of beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. Description Like other Melolonthinae, adult ''Stethaspis'' are oval and robust in shape. The antennae are relatively short and have the last few segment ...

'' * ''

Stethaspis simmondsi ''Stethaspis'' is a genus of beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. Description Like other Melolonthinae, adult ''Stethaspis'' are oval and robust in shape. The antennae are relatively short and have the last few segment ...

'' * ''

Stethaspis suturalis ''Stethaspis'' is a genus of beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. Description Like other Melolonthinae, adult ''Stethaspis'' are oval and robust in shape. The antennae are relatively short and have the last few segment ...

Gallery

File:Stethaspis suturalis 111940868.jpg, ''

'' File:Stethaspis suturalis 109318726.jpg, Underside of a different ''S. suturalis''

References

{{Taxonbar, from=Q14862420 Scarabaeidae genera Melolonthinae Endemic beetles of New Zealand Taxa named by Frederick William Hope