dcsimg
Image of Delta Flower Scarab
Creatures » » Animal » » Arthropods » » Hexapods » Insects » Winged Insects » » Endopterygotes » Beetles » » Cetoniidae »

Delta Flower Scarab

Trigonopeltastes delta (Forster 1771)

Trigonopeltastes delta

provided by wikipedia EN

Trigonopeltastes delta, the delta flower scarab or D beetle, is a diurnal species of scarab beetle native to the southeastern United States, though their range extends as far north as New Jersey.

Description

A large beetle on a flower
Adult on a coastalplain palafox flower.

Adults measure 8-10 millimeters in length, and can be identified by the yellow triangle on the pronotum, which resembles the defensive coloration of many wasps and has been theorized to act as Batesian mimicry.[1] They can be found from late spring through the summer on the flowers, including those of Queen Anne's lace and New Jersey tea.[2]

Etymology

The generic name is derived from Greek words meaning "triangular shield", with the specific name "delta" referring to the pattern on the dorsal side of the beetle's prothorax, which is reminiscent of the Greek letter delta.[3]

References

  1. ^ "Delta Flower Scarab - Trigonopeltastes delta".
  2. ^ Evans, Arthur V. (2014). Beetles of Eastern North America. Princeton University Press. p. 177. ISBN 978-1-4008-5182-9.
  3. ^ "Delta Flower Scarab - Trigonopeltastes delta (Förster)".

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN

Trigonopeltastes delta: Brief Summary

provided by wikipedia EN

Trigonopeltastes delta, the delta flower scarab or D beetle, is a diurnal species of scarab beetle native to the southeastern United States, though their range extends as far north as New Jersey.

license
cc-by-sa-3.0
copyright
Wikipedia authors and editors
original
visit source
partner site
wikipedia EN