Cyclocephala Dejean, 1821

Ratcliffe, Brett C., Cave, Ronald D. & Mondaca, José, 2021, The Dynastine Scarab Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae) of Chile, The Coleopterists Bulletin 75 (2), pp. 279-309 : 286-288

Cyclocephala Dejean, 1821

Cyclocephala Dejean 1821: 51 .

Mononidia Casey 1915: 110 (synonym). Diapatalia Casey 1915: 111 (synonym). Stigmalia Casey 1915: 111 (synonym). Spilosota Casey 1915: 112 (synonym). Ochrosidia Casey 1915: 112 (synonym). Dichromina Casey 1915: 112 (synonym). Homochromina Casey 1915: 113 (synonym). Plagiosalia Casey 1915: 135 (synonym). Isocoryna Casey 1915: 136 (synonym). Graphalia Casey 1915: 159 (synonym). Aclinidia Casey 1915: 113 (synonym). Halotosia Casey 1915: 113 (synonym). Aspidotites Höhne 1922: 374 (synonym). Aspidolella Prell 1936: 146 (synonym). Albridarollia Bolívar y Pieltain et al. 1963: 182

(synonym). Paraclimidia Martínez 1965: 13 (synonym, described as subgenus).

Cyclocephala is a large genus that currently contains about 350 species, although new species are being described continuously. Endrödi (1985) provided the most recent synopsis of the genus, although 90 species have been described since this work. Consequently, the keys in his manual should be used with caution inasmuch as there now exist 44% more species than are in the keys. Cyclocephala species occur from extreme southeastern Canada south to Argentina and Chile and in the West Indies. Most of the species occur in the Neotropical realm. There is one adventive species in Chile.

Species in the genus may be recognized by a clypeus that is subparallel at its base and with the sides converging anteriorly to a rounded, parabolic, subtruncate, or emarginate apex; antenna with 8–10 antennomeres (nine in the Chilean species) and the club longer in the male of a few species; maxilla armed with distinct teeth; and protarsus in the male distinctly enlarged with the medial (or inner) claw much larger than the outer claw. The protarsus in females is simple and not enlarged. Cyclocephala species do not have the elongated mandible seen in most Ancognatha species, and they also have a more or less complete frontoclypeal suture that is obsolete medially in Ancognatha species. The form of the parameres of male Cyclocephala species is diagnostic.

Adult Cyclocephala species are nocturnal, and they are attracted to lights at night. Only a few larvae have been described, and those feed on the roots of grasses.Adults of some species are known to feed upon and pollinate the flowers of aroids and certain palms.