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, 2002
- Amorphochelus Fairmaire, 1898
- Anisochelus Burmeister, 1844
- Argoplia Dombrow, 2003
- Athesphatoplia Lacroix, 1998
- Beckhoplia Dombrow, 2005
- Bizanus Péringuey, 1902
- Blanchardoplia Lacroix, 1998
- Blikana Péringuey, 1902
- Burmeistoplia Dombrow, 2003
- Caesariatoplia Lacroix, 1998
- Calliferoplia Lacroix, 1998
- Ceratochelus Dombrow, 2002
- Chasme Le Peletier & Serville, 1828
- Coega Péringuey, 1902
- Cylichnus Burmeister, 1844
- Cylindrocrates Schein, 1958
- Dentiheterochelus Dombrow, 2002
- Diaplochelus Burmeister, 1844
- Dichelhoplia Blanchard, 1850
- Dicranocnemus Burmeister, 1844
- Dolichiomicroscelis Dombrow, 2003
- Dombrocnemis Allsopp & Schoolmeesters, 2024
- Ectinohoplia Redtenbacher, 1868
- Eremoplia Kolbe, 1914
- Eriesthis Burmeister, 1844
- Goniaspidius Burmeister, 1844
- Gouna Péringuey, 1902
- Gymnoloma Dejean, 1833
- Gyroplia Brenske, 1893
- Harpina Burmeister, 1844
- Himalhoplia Sabatinelli, 1983
- Hoplebaea Brenske, 1899
- Hoplia Illiger, 1803
- Hoplocnemis Harold, 1869
- Hoplorida Moser, 1918
- Idutywa Péringuey, 1902
- Inanda Péringuey, 1902
- Kareiga Péringuey, 1902
- Khoina Péringuey, 1902
- Knysna Péringuey, 1902
- Korisaba Péringuey, 1902
- Kubousa Péringuey, 1902
- Lepisia Le Peletier & Serville, 1828
- Lepithrix Le Peletier & Serville, 1828
- Lepitrichula Schein, 1959
- Macroplia Brenske, 1898
- Mauromecistoplia Dombrow, 2002
- Microplidus Péringuey, 1902
- Microplus Burmeister, 1844
- Mitrophorus Burmeister, 1844
- Monochelus Le Peletier & Serville, 1828
- Nanaga Péringuey, 1902
- Nanniscus Burmeister, 1844
- Nesohoplia Scott, 1912
- Nigroplia Dombrow, 2002
- Omocnemus Schein, 1958
- Omocrates Burmeister, 1844
- Outeniqua Péringuey, 1902
- Perabula Allsopp & Schoolmeesters, 2024
- Paraceratochelus Dombrow, 2002
- Pareriesthis Moser, 1918
- Phillsoppia Allsopp & Schoolmeesters, 2024
- Platychelus Burmeister, 1844
- Pseudheterochelus Schein, 1959
- Pseudocongella Moser, 1924
- Pseudouteniqua Schein, 1959
- Rectoscutaria Schein, 1958
- Scelidothrix Dombrow, 2001
- Sceloclania Schein, 1958
- Scelophysa Burmeister, 1844
- Stigmatoplia Dombrow, 2001
- Thabina Péringuey, 1902
- Thoracoplia Prokofiev, 2015
- Tsaratanoplia Lacroix, 1997
- Thoracoplia Prokofiev, 2015
- Vansoniola Schein, 1958
- Anisonyx Latreille, 1807
- Denticnema Schein, 1959
- Pachycnema Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1828
- Peritrichia Burmeister, 1844