Protaetia alboguttata explained

Protaetia alboguttata is a species of flower chafer found in India,^[1] Nepal and Sri Lanka.^[2] ^[3]

Description

They are polyphagous beetle known to destroy brinjal plantations where adults feed on the tender shoots, flowers and flower buds. Attacks are more common in the early morning. In 2000, they were found from maize tassels during rainy season with characteristic aggregation habit.^[4] Apart from them, adult aggregations are also found from ripe fruits of Ficus carica,^[5] Averrhoa carambola and Carissa carandus.^[6] ^[7]

In 1966, this species was split with a new species described as wiebesi found in Sri Lanka and peninsular India. The difference between wiebesi and alboguttata are claimed to be in the genitalia, the shape of the hind leg, hairiness of hind leg, and the shade of the background colour - greener in alboguttata, violet-black in wiebesi.^[8]

Notes and References

Web site: Inventory of scarabaeid beetles (Coleoptera) from Madhya Pradesh, India . 2021-07-25 . Zoo's Print Journal, 2000.
Web site: The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora . 2021-07-25 . Ministry of Environment in Sri Lanka.
Web site: Protaetia alboguttata (Vigors, 1826) . 2021-07-26 . www.gbif.org . en.
Web site: Records of new Cetonides pests in Rajasthan State . 2021-07-26 . www.cabdirect.org.
Web site: OCCURRENCE OF FRUIT CHAFER BEETLE PROTAEITIA ALBOGUTTATA (VIGORS) ON FIG . 2021-07-25 . Indian Journal of Entomology 83(2021) Online published Ref. No. e20174.
Web site: Incidence of cetonid beetles, Protaetia alboguttata (Vigors) on karonda, Carissa carandas . 2021-07-25 . J. Hortl. Sci.Vol. 12(1) : 82-84, 2017.
Web site: 2020 . Volatiles from Carissa carandas fruits damaged by conspecifics attract chafer beetles, Protaetia alboguttata (Vigors) . 2021-07-26 . Pest Management in Horticultural Ecosystems.
Elfter beitrag zur kenntnis der Protaetia-arten (Coleoptera, Cetoniidae). Miksic, Rene. 1966. 41. 21. Zoologische Mededelingen. 299-305.