With some 10,000 described species, and many more still undescribed species, the Melolonthinae are an example of an extremely species rich phytophagous beetle lineage. They constitute an ecologically and taxonomically diverse group within the Scarabaeoidea (Scarabs, Chafers, June Beetles etc…). The Melolonthinae are characterized, among others, by white grub larvae that feed on the roots of grasses, palms and various groups of trees. Many species occur in grasslands and are crop pests (Hurpin, 1962; Britton, 1978). The most severely affected plants occur in the tropical regions, but severe damage to agriculture also has been reported in many regions. In Western Europe, damage is mainly caused by species of the genera Melolontha Fabricius, 1775 (Régnier, 1950; Hurpin, 1962) and Amphimallon Berthold, 1827 (Régnier, 1939, 1940, 1950; Gambrell, 1946; Hurpin, 1962).

The Rhizotrogini is a large tribe of Melolonthinae, which groups together about 1400 species from Palaearctic, Nearctic, Neotropical and Oriental regions (Sabatinelli and Pontuale, 1998).

(click to enlarge) Phylogeny of western Palaearctic Rhizotrogini from O.Montreuil, 2008

(click to enlarge) Distribution of Amphimallon from O.Montreuil, 2008

Genus Amadotrogus

Amadotrogus truncatus Brenske, 1886 (Rhizotrogus) - Lebanon

Genus Amphimallon

This genus is composed of approximately 60 species inhabiting the Western–Palaearctic region. It is distributed across Europe (except in the northern regions), in the Middle East, from Central Asia to Siberia, and in Northern Africa (Morocco, Northern Algeria). Despite recent phylogenetic and taxonomic work focusing on the Rhizotrogini (Medvedev, 1951; Baraud, 1977, 1985, 1992; Coca Abia, 1995; Montreuil, 2000 and 2008).

Amphimallon jedlickai Balthasar, 1936 - Syria

Amphimallon leuthneri Reitter, 1902 - Turkey, Syria, Lebanon, Jordan

Amphimallon solstitiale setosum Reitter, 1902

Genus Aplidia

Aplidia akbesiana Petrovitz, 1971 (Haplidia) - Turkey, Syria

Aplidia baraudi Sabatinelli, 1991 (Haplidia) - Jordan

Aplidia caesarina Reitter, 1902 (Haplidia) - Turkey, Israel

Aplidia chaifensis Kraatz, 1882 (Haplidia) - Israel

Aplidia dilatata Reitter, 1902 (Haplidia) – Turkey, Syria

Aplidia endroedii Baraud, 1988 (Haplidia) – Israel ?, Jordan

Aplidia fissa fissa Burmeister, 1855 (Haplidia) – Turkey, Israel, Lebanon, Syria

Aplidia janczyki Baraud, 1988 (Haplidia) – Israel, Lebanon, Syria

Aplidia joannis Baraud, 1988 (Haplidia) – Israel ?, Lebanon, Syria

Aplidia lizleri Keith, 2000 (Haplidia) – Turkey, Syria, Israel ?

Aplidia nitidula Kraatz, 1882 (Haplidia) – Turkey, Israel, Syria

Aplidia petrovitzi petrovitzi Baraud, 1988 (Haplidia) – Israel, Syria

Aplidia pilicollis pilicollis Petrovitz, 1967 (Haplidia) – Turkey

Aplidia pilicollis temperei Baraud, 1988 (Haplidia) – Lebanon

Aplidia tarsensis Kraatz, 1882 (Haplidia) – Turkey, Syria

Aplidia villosicollis Kraatz, 1882 (Haplidia) – Israel, Lebanon, Syria

Aplidia werneri Keith, 2000 (Haplidia) – Turkey, Syria

Genus Gnaphalostetha

Gnaphalostetha bonvoisini Reiche and Saulcy, 1856 - Israel, Jordan

Gnaphalostetha hiemalis Baraud, 1990 (Lasiexis) – Jordan

Genus Holochelus

Holochelus (Holochelus) fallax fallax Marseul, 1879 (Rhizotrogus) – Turkey, Syria

Holochelus (Holochelus) fallax mandator Reitter, 1902 (Rhizotrogus) – Syria

Holochelus (Holochelus) gigas Sabatinelli, 1977 (Miltotrogus) – Lebanon, Syria

Holochelus (Holochelus) pilicollis pilicollis Gyllenhal, 1817 (Melolontha) – Turkey, Syria

Holochelus (Holochelus) setiventris Reitter, 1902 (Rhizotrogus) – Israel, Lebanon, Syria

Holochelus (Miltotrogus) angustifrons Nonveiller, 1965 (Miltotrogus) – Syria

Holochelus (Miltotrogus) mimicus Reitter, 1902 (Rhizotrogus) – Turkey, Syria

Holochelus (Miltotrogus) rapuzzii Keith, 2004 – Syria

Holochelus (Miltotrogus) syriacus Brenske, 1886 (Rhizotrogus) – Lebanon, Syria

Genus Madotrogus

Madotrogus (Micramphimallon) sinaicus Baraud, 1975 (Eriotrogus) – Sinai

Genus Pseudotrematodes

Pseudotrematodes frivaldszkyi Menetries, 1836 (Rhizotrogus) – Turkey, Syria

Genus Rhizotrogus

Rhizotrogus schaufussi Brenske, 1891 – Syria

Selected References

O.Montreuil