Monkey beetle
Monkey beetles are scarab beetles, a group of around 70 genera and 850 described species within the tribe Hopliini. The placement of this tribe within the family Scarabaeidae is uncertain between Melolonthinae and Rutelinae. Many species visit flowers for pollen and nectar, or to browse on the petals. The beetles are important pollinators of Aizoaceae and Asteraceae in grazed and ungrazed areas, as well as many others.
They tend to favor flowers of white, yellow, pink, orange, and blue pigments. They also tend to favor flowers of symmetrical, abstract patterns. Due to their pollination patterns, many plants evolved special features in order to attract monkey beetles, such as the Iridaceae which now have bright colors and symmetrical, unique patterns.
Genera
These 70 or so genera belong to the tribe Hopliini :Amblymelanoplia Dombrow, 2002Amorphochelus Fairmaire, 1898Anisochelus Burmeister, 1844Argoplia Dombrow, 2003Athesphatoplia Lacroix, 1998Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005Bizanus Péringuey, 1902Blanchardoplia Lacroix, 1998Blikana Péringuey, 1902Burmeistoplia Dombrow, 2003Caesariatoplia Lacroix, 1998Calliferoplia Lacroix, 1998Ceratochelus Dombrow, 2002Chasme Le Peletier & Serville, 1828Coega Péringuey, 1902Cylichnus Burmeister, 1844Cylindrocrates Schein, 1958Dentiheterochelus Dombrow, 2002Diaplochelus Burmeister, 1844Dichelhoplia Blanchard, 1850Dicranocnemus Burmeister, 1844Dolichiomicroscelis Dombrow, 2003Dombrocnemis Allsopp & Schoolmeesters, 2024 Ectinohoplia Redtenbacher, 1868Eremoplia Kolbe, 1914Eriesthis Burmeister, 1844Goniaspidius Burmeister, 1844Gouna Péringuey, 1902Gymnoloma Dejean, 1833Gyroplia Brenske, 1893Harpina Burmeister, 1844Himalhoplia Sabatinelli, 1983Hoplebaea Brenske, 1899Hoplia Illiger, 1803Hoplocnemis Harold, 1869Hoplorida Moser, 1918Idutywa Péringuey, 1902Inanda Péringuey, 1902Kareiga Péringuey, 1902Khoina Péringuey, 1902Knysna Péringuey, 1902Korisaba Péringuey, 1902Kubousa Péringuey, 1902Lepisia Le Peletier & Serville, 1828Lepithrix Le Peletier & Serville, 1828Lepitrichula Schein, 1959Macroplia Brenske, 1898Mauromecistoplia Dombrow, 2002Microplidus Péringuey, 1902Microplus Burmeister, 1844Mitrophorus Burmeister, 1844Monochelus Le Peletier & Serville, 1828Nanaga Péringuey, 1902Nanniscus Burmeister, 1844Nesohoplia Scott, 1912Nigroplia Dombrow, 2002Omocnemus Schein, 1958Omocrates Burmeister, 1844Outeniqua Péringuey, 1902Perabula Allsopp & Schoolmeesters, 2024 Paraceratochelus Dombrow, 2002Pareriesthis Moser, 1918Phillsoppia Allsopp & Schoolmeesters, 2024 Platychelus Burmeister, 1844Pseudheterochelus Schein, 1959Pseudocongella Moser, 1924Pseudouteniqua Schein, 1959Rectoscutaria Schein, 1958Scelidothrix Dombrow, 2001Sceloclania Schein, 1958Scelophysa Burmeister, 1844Stigmatoplia Dombrow, 2001Thabina Péringuey, 1902Thoracoplia Prokofiev, 2015Tsaratanoplia Lacroix, 1997Thoracoplia Prokofiev, 2015Vansoniola Schein, 1958These 4 genera belong to the tribe Hopliini (subtribe: Pachycnemina:Anisonyx Latreille, 1807Denticnema Schein, 1959Pachycnema Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1828Peritrichia Burmeister, 1844
For Clania Schein, 1956 see Sceloclania Schein, 1958