Morphology of a grass-feeding white grub Apogonia cupreoviridis (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae: Diplotaxini) using scanning electron microscopy

Abstract

Larvae of Melolonthinae (white grubs) are usually considered as serious pests for some of them attacking plant roots and causing great losses of agriculture and forestry. However, not all the white grubs are pest species. In this study, the adult Apogonia cupreoviridis were observed to feed on gramineous grasses and fallen ginkgo leaves, while their larvae were frequently collected in the lawn. The larvae were reared in the laboratory and observed using scanning electron microscopy. The larvae have the plegmatia expanded in the middle; distal antennomere with an apical process bearing one bifurcated sensilla and nine sensilla basiconica on the apex; the palidia are V-shaped and each palidium bearing five to nine pali. The V-shaped palidia are found in the known larvae of Diplotaxini, as to genera Apogonia and Liogenys.