Scitala sericans (a species of scarab-beetle)
Basis for Tasmanian occurrence
Semmens, T.D., McQuillan, P.B. & Hayhurst, G. (1992). Catalogue of the Insects of Tasmania. Government of Tasmania: Department of Primary Industry, 104 pp.
TMAG collections
Classification
Order: Coleoptera
Suborder: Polyphaga
Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Melolonthinae
Tribe: Scitalini
Morphology
Typical length (mm): 18
Flightedness: winged and assumed capable of flight
Flightedness: winged and assumed capable of flight
Source literature on morphology and taxonomy (*primary taxonomic source, where identified):
*Erichson, W.F. (1842). Beitrag zur Insecten-Fauna von Vandiemensland, mit besonderer Beruecksichtung der geographischen Verbreitung der Insecten. Nicolai’schen Buchhandlung 8(1): 379 pages
Ecology
Assumed larval feeding: root-feeder
Association with dead wood or old trees: not saproxylic
Association with dead wood or old trees: not saproxylic
Collection method(s) for TMAG material: — At light (with use of light-trap) — Hand collection (substrate not specified) — Pitfall trapping.
Source ecological literature:
Michaels, K.F. (1999a). Carabid beetles as biodiversity and ecological indicators. PhD thesis, Univ. of Tasmania, Hobart.
