Flower chafers are a group of scarab beetles comprising the subfamily Cetoniinae. Many species are diurnal and visit flowers for pollen and nectar or to browse on the petals. Some species also feed on fruit. The group is also called fruit and flower chafers, flower beetles, and flower scarabs. Around 4,000 species are known, but many of them are still undescribed.
Ten tribes currently are recognized: Cetoniini, Cremastocheilini, Diplognathini, Goliathini, Gymnetini, Phaedimini, Schizorhinini, Stenotarsiini, Taenioderini, and Xiphoscelidini. The tribes Trichiini and Valgini have been elevated in rank to subfamily, but later research re-included them in Cetoniinae. The tribe Gymnetini has the most species of the American tribes, and Goliathini contains the largest species and is mainly found in the rainforest regions of Africa.
Description Adult flower chafers are usually brightly coloured beetles, often metallic, and somewhat flattened in shape. The insertions of the antennae are visible from above, while the mandibles and labra are hidden by the clypeus. The elytra lack a narrow, membranous margin and are truncated to expose the pygidium. The abdominal spiracles are diverging so that several lie on the abdominal sternites with at least one exposed. The fore coxae are conical and produced ventrally, while the mid coxae are transverse or only slightly oblique. The mesothoracic epimera is visible from above. The tarsi are each equipped with a pair of simple (not forked) tarsal claws of subequal size.
A feature possessed by adults of many flower chafers, especially the Cetoniini, is lateral emmargination of the elytra.
Larvae are stout-bodied and very hairy with short legs. The head is partly covered by the prothorax. Each antenna has its apical segment as wide as the penultimate segment. The galea and lacinia are used to form a mala. The anal cleft is transverse. The mandible has a ventral stridulating area. The labrum is symmetrical with a deeply pigmented notch on each side of the midline.
Biology Adult cetoniines are herbivorous, being found on flowers (from which they consume nectar and pollen), tree sap, and rotting fruit. Larvae generally live and feed in decaying plant matter (including decaying wood) or soil.
Many species in the tribe Cremastocheilini are known to be predaceous, feeding on hymenopteran larvae or soft-bodied nymphs of Auchenorrhyncha. Spilophorus species have been noted as feeding on the nesting material and excrement of South African passerine birds, while Spilophorus maculatus has been recorded feeding on Oxyrhachis tarandus nymphs and Hoplostomus fuligineus is known to feed on the brood of honey bees in South Africa and the pupae of the wasp Belonogaster petiolata. Campsiura javanica feeds on the larvae of Ropalidia montana in southern India. Cremastocheilus stathamae feeds on ants of the genus Myrmecocystus.
In terms of movement, adults are considered some of the best flyers among beetles. They can hover above and land on flowers or fruit. When threatened by predators, they escape by either performing a rush take-off or by falling toward the ground and then flying before impact. Many cetoniines fly with their elytra closed, as their hindwings can unfold and slide out under the elytra during flight (due to the emmargination of the elytra).
Larvae of some taxa can crawl on their backs using their tergal folds, which are covered in strong bristles. Others crawl on their legs.
Systematics and taxonomy
The following list contains the genera and subtribes in ten tribes of subfamily Cetoniinae, according to Catalogue of Life and Scarabaeidae of the World (2026). Cetoniini Leach, 1815 (1.310 species) Cremastocheilini Burmeister & Schaum, 1841 (451 species) Cryptodontini Lacordaire, 1855 (23 species) Diplognathini Burmeister, 1842 (145 species) Goliathini Latreille, 1829 (536 species) Gymnetini Kirby, 1827 (269 species) Incini Burmeister, 1842 (17 species) Osmodermatini Schenkling, 1922 (14 species) Phaedimini Schoch, 1894 (60 species) Platygeniini Krikken, 1984 (4 species) Schizorhinini Burmeister, 1842 (479 species) Stenotarsiini Kraatz, 1880 (382 species) Taenioderini Mikšić, 1976 (366 species) Trichiini Fleming, 1821 (356 species) Valgini Mulsant, 1842 (362 species) Xiphoscelidini Burmeister, 1842 (42 species)
The following list contains the genera and subtribes in ten tribes of subfamily Cetoniinae, according to Catalogue of Life and Scarabaeidae of the World (2023). Cetoniini Authority: Leach, 1815 Subtribe Cetoniina Leach, 1815
Aethiessa Burmeister, 1842 Anatona Burmeister, 1842 Anelaphinis Kolbe, 1892 Aphelinis Antoine, 1987 Atrichelaphinis Kraatz, 1898 Atrichiana Distant, 1911 Badizoblax Thomson, 1877 Centrantyx Fairmaire, 1884 Cetonia Fabricius, 1775 Chewia Legrand, 2004 Chiloloba Burmeister, 1842 Cosmesthes Kraatz, 1880 Cosmiophaena Kraatz, 1898 Dischista Burmeister, 1842 Dolichostethus Kolbe, 1892 Elaphinis Burmeister, 1842 Enoplotarsus Lucas, 1859 Erlangeria Preiss, 1902 Gametis Burmeister, 1842 Gametoides Antoine, 2005 Glycosia Schoch, 1896 Glycyphana Burmeister, 1842 Gymnophana Arrow, 1910 Hemiprotaetia Mikšić, 1963 Heterocnemis Albers, 1852 Heterotephraea Antoine, 2002 Lorkovitschia Mikšić, 1968 Marmylida Thomson, 1880 Mireia Ruter, 1953 Niphobleta Kraatz, 1880 Pachnoda Burmeister, 1842 Pachnodoides Alexis & Delpont, 2002 Pachytephraea De Palma & Malec, 2020 Paleopragma Thomson, 1880 Paranelaphinis Antoine, 1988 Paraprotaetia Moser, 1907 Pararhabdotis Kraatz, 1899 Parastraella Antoine, 2005 Paraxeloma Holm, 1988 Parelaphinis Marais & Holm, 1989 Phaneresthes Kraatz, 1894 Phonotaenia Kraatz, 1880 Phoxomeloides Schoch, 1898 Podopholis Moser, 1915 Podopogonus Moser, 1917 Pogonopus Arrow, 1910 Polystalactica Kraatz, 1882 Protaetia Burmeister, 1842 Protaetiomorpha Mikšić, 1968 Pseudotephraea Kraatz, 1882 Reineria Mikšić, 1968 Rhabdotis Burmeister, 1842 Rhabdotops Krikken, 1981 Rhyxiphloea Burmeister, 1842 Ruteraetia Krikken, 1980 Simorrhina Kraatz, 1886 Somalibia Lansberge, 1882 Stalagmosoma Burmeister, 1842 Systellorrhina Kraatz, 1895 Tephraea Burmeister, 1842 Thyreogonia Reitter, 1898 Trichocephala Moser, 1916 Tropinota Mulsant, 1842 Walsternoplus Allsopp, Jákl & Rey, 2023 Xeloma Kraatz, 1881
Subtribe Euphoriina Horn, 1880 Chlorixanthe Bates, 1889 Euphoria Burmeister, 1842 Subtribe Leucocelina Kraatz, 1882
Acrothyrea Kraatz, 1882 Alleucosma Schenkling, 1921 Amaurina Kolbe, 1895 Analleucosma Antoine, 1989 Cyrtothyrea Kolbe, 1895 Discopeltis Burmeister, 1842 Grammopyga Kolbe, 1895 Heteralleucosma Antoine, 1989 Homothyrea Kolbe, 1895 Leucocelis Burmeister, 1842 Lonchothyrea Kolbe, 1895 Mausoleopsis Lansberge, 1882 Mecaspidiellus Antoine, 1997 Molynoptera Kraatz, 1897 Molynopteroides Antoine, 1989 Oxythyrea Mulsant, 1842 Paleira Reiche, 1871 Paralleucosma Antoine, 1989 Phoxomela Schaum, 1844 Pseudalleucosma Antoine, 1989 Pseudooxythyrea Baraud, 1985
Cremastocheilini Authority: Burmeister & Schaum, 1841 Subtribe Aspilina Krikken, 1984 Aspilochilus Rojkoff, 2013 Aspilus Westwood, 1874 Protochilus Krikken, 1976 Subtribe Coenochilina Burmeister, 1842 Arielina Rossi, 1958 Astoxenus Péringuey, 1907 Basilewskynia Schein, 1957 Coenochilus Schaum, 1841 Subtribe Cremastocheilina Burmeister & Schaum, 1841
Centrochilus Krikken, 1976 Clinterocera Motschulsky, 1857 Cremastocheilus Knoch, 1801 Cyclidiellus Krikken, 1976 Cyclidinus Westwood, 1874 Cyclidius MacLeay, 1838 Genuchinus Westwood, 1874 Lissomelas Bates, 1889 Paracyclidius Howden, 1971 Platysodes Westwood, 1874 Psilocnemis Burmeister, 1842
Subtribe Cymophorina Krikken, 1984 Cymophorus Kirby, 1827 Myrmecochilus Wasmann, 1900 Rhagopteryx Burmeister, 1842 Subtribe Genuchina Krikken, 1984 Genuchus Kirby, 1825 Meurguesia Ruter, 1969 Problerhinus Deyrolle, 1864 Subtribe Goliathopsidina Krikken, 1984 Goliathopsis Janson, 1881 Subtribe Heterogeniina Krikken, 1984 Heterogenius Moser, 1911 Pseudastoxenus Bourgoin, 1921 Subtribe Lissogeniina Krikken, 1984 Chthonobius Burmeister, 1847 Lissogenius Schaum, 1844 Subtribe Macromina Burmeister & Schaum, 1842 Brachymacroma Kraatz, 1896 Campsiura Hope, 1831 Macromina Westwood, 1874 Pseudopilinurgus Moser, 1918 Subtribe Nyassinina Krikken, 1984 Nyassinus Westwood, 1879 Subtribe Oplostomina Krikken, 1984 Anatonochilus Péringuey, 1907 Oplostomus MacLeay, 1838 Placodidus Péringuey, 1900 Scaptobius Schaum, 1841 Subtribe Pilinurgina Krikken, 1984 Callynomes Mohnike, 1873 Centrognathus Guérin-Méneville, 1840 Parapilinurgus Arrow, 1910 Periphanesthes Kraatz, 1880 Pilinurgus Burmeister, 1842 Priska Jákl, 2018 Subtribe Spilophorina Krikken, 1984 Spilophorus Westwood, 1848 Subtribe Telochilina Krikken, 1984 Telochilus Krikken, 1975 Subtribe Trichoplina Krikken, 1984 Lecanoderus Kolbe, 1907 Trichoplus Burmeister, 1842 Subtribe Trogodina Krikken, 1984 Pseudoscaptobius Krikken, 1976 Trogodes Boheman, 1857 Diplognathini Authority: Burmeister, 1842; selected genera: Diplognatha Gory & Percheron, 1833 Odontorrhina Burmeister, 1842 Trichostetha Burmeister, 1842
Goliathini Authority: Latreille, 1829 Subtribe Dicronocephalina Krikken, 1984 Dicronocephalus Platynocephalus Subtribe Goliathina Latreille, 1829 Fornasinius Bertoloni, 1852 Goliathus Lamarck, 1801 Hegemus Thomson, 1881 Hypselogenia Burmeister, 1840 Subtribe Ichnestomina Burmeister, 1842 Gariep Péringuey, 1907 Ichnestoma Gory & Percheron, 1833 Karooida Perissinotto, 2020 Mzansica Perissinotto, 2020 Subtribe Coryphocerina Burmeister, 1842
Anagnathocera Arrow, 1922 Anisorrhina Westwood, 1842 Asthenorhella Westwood, 1874 Asthenorhina Westwood, 1843 Bietia Fairmaire, 1898 Caelorrhina Hope, 1841 Cheirolasia Westwood, 1842 Chloresthia Fairmaire, 1905 Chlorocala Kirby, 1828 Chondrorrhina Kraatz, 1880 Compsocephalus White, 1845 Cosmiomorpha Saunders, 1852 Cyphonocephalus Westwood, 1842 Desfontainesia Alexis & Delpont, 1999 Dicellachilus Waterhouse, 1905 Dicheros Gory & Percheron, 1833 Dicronorhina Hope, 1837 Diphyllomorpha Hope, 1843 Dymusia Burmeister, 1842 Euchloropus Arrow, 1907 Eudicella White, 1839 Eutelesmus Waterhouse, 1880 Gnathocera Kirby, 1825 Gnorimimelus Kraatz, 1880 Hemiheterorrhina Mikšić, 1974 Herculaisia Seilliere, 1910 Heterorhina Westwood, 1842 Ingrisma Fairmaire, 1893 Ischnoscelis Burmeister, 1842 Jumnos Saunders, 1839 Lansbergia Ritsema, 1888 Lophorrhina Westwood, 1842 Lophorrhinides Perissinotto, Clennell & Beinhundner, 2019 Mawenzhena Alexis & Delpont, 2001 Mecynorhina Hope, 1837 Moseriana Ruter, 1965 Mystroceros Burmeister, 1842 Narycius Dupont, 1835 Neomystroceros Alexis & Delpont, 1998 Neophaedimus Lucas, 1870 Neoscelis Schoch, 1897 Pedinorrhina Kraatz, 1880 Plaesiorrhina Westwood, 1842 Petrovitzia Mikšić, 1965 Priscorrhina Krikken, 1984 Pseudodiceros Mikšić, 1974 Pseudotorynorrhina Mikšić, 1967 Ptychodesthes Kraatz, 1883 Raceloma Thomson, 1877 Rhamphorrhina Klug, 1855 Rhinarion Ruter, 1965 Rhomborhina Hope, 1837 Scythropesthes Kraatz, 1880 Smicorhina Westwood, 1847 Spelaiorrhina Lansberge, 1886 Stephanorrhina Burmeister, 1842 Taurhina Burmeister, 1842 Tmesorrhina Westwood, 1841 Torynorrhina Arrow, 1907 Trichoneptunides Legrand, 2001 Trigonophorinus Pouillaude, 1913 Trigonophorus Hope, 1831
Gymnetini Authority: Kirby, 1827 Subtribe Blaesiina Schoch, 1895 Blaesia Burmeister, 1842 Halffterinetis Morón & Nogueira, 2007 Subtribe Gymnetina Kirby, 1827
Allorrhina Burmeister, 1842 Amazula Kraatz, 1882 Amithao Thomson, 1878 Argyripa Thomson, 1878 Astroscara Schürhoff, 1937 Badelina Thomson, 1880 Balsameda Thomson, 1880 Chiriquibia Bates, 1889 Clinteria Burmeister, 1842 Clinteroides Schoch, 1898 Cotinis Burmeister, 1842 - (Green June Beetles) Desicasta Thomson, 1878 Guatemalica Neervoort Van De Poll, 1886 Gymnephoria Ratcliffe, 2019