Rhinyptia

Rhinyptia is a genus of scarab beetles. The genus is characterised by the clypeus narrowing into a long and pointed tip (a "snout"). The male has the outer claw of the mid leg unforked. There are about 20 species in the genus and are found in Asia and Africa.

Rhinyptia
Rhinyptia indica showing clypeal "snout"
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Animalia
Phylum:
Arthropoda
Class:
Insecta
Order:
Coleoptera
Superfamily:
Scarabaeoidea
Family:
Scarabaeidae
Subfamily:
Rutelinae
Tribe:
Anomalini
Genus:
Rhinyptia

Burmeister, 1844

The African forms are placed in the subgenus Pararhinyptia. The larvae are white and curled (also known as whitegrubs) as in other scarabs living under the ground and feeding on roots of various plants. Adults feed on flowers and their emergence is associated with the flowering of various grasses including cultivated millet and cereal crops. Adults are attracted to lights.[1]

Rhinyptia infuscata has been recorded as a locally important pest on pearl millet flowers in Niger. As it is a nocturnal beetle, farmers in Niger often fight the species using fires set at night. It is also reported as sorghum pest in Senegal, and as a pest on maize, where the larvae attack the roots.[2]

References
  1. Jameson, Mary Liz; Mico, Estefania & Galante, Eduardo (2007). "Evolution and phylogeny of the scarab subtribe Anisopliina (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Rutelinae: Anomalini)". Systematic Entomology. 32 (3): 429–449. doi:10.1111/j.1365-3113.2006.00380.x. hdl:10057/3382.
  2. Heath, Jeffrey. "Guide to insects, arthropods, and molluscs of northern Dogon country".


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