Review of the South African Species ofPegylisErichson, 1847 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) Commonly Known as Large Wattle Chafers

A taxonomic review of white grubs and leaf chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) recorded from forestry and agricultural crops in Sub-Saharan Africa

“…Later (Sweeney, 1967) added that ‘ Few published papers deal with the morphology and taxonomy of larval Scarabaeoidea in southern Africa, and the larvae of many species are undescribed’ . However, recent taxonomic work by Ahrens (2007 a , b ), Conlong & Mugalula (2003), Dittrich-Schröder et al (2009), Goble et al (2012) and Harrison (2004, 2009, 2014 a , b , this review) is a positive advancement in melolonthine research in the Region.…”

“…An ideal scenario would be as follows: a taxonomist is presented with larvae and adults of Pegylis sommeri and asked to identify these. In this particular instance, the larvae could be identified using Prins (1965) and the adults using Harrison (2014 b ). Adult specimens of Asthenopholis can be identified using Harrison (2009), but the larva of only one species of this genus has been described, i.e., A. subfasciata in Smith et al (1995), leaving the larvae of the remaining six species unassociated with their adults via the taxonomic literature.…”

“…However, species with 2–3 year life-cycles often have adults active each year due to an overlapping of generations. The phenology of the adults is unknown for most species, but based on adult phenological data compiled from museum records for Asthenopholis (Harrison, 2009) and Pegylis (Harrison, 2014 b ), adults from these genera are present in varying numbers throughout summer each year.…”

“…The adult activity period can be quite narrow (just a few days after rain) for some species of chafer (Harrison, personal observations) or extend over a longer time period, i.e. weeks and months for Pegylis sommeri (see phenology figs in Harrison (2014 b )).…”

“…), while others have a wider distribution (eurytopic, e.g. Pegylis sommeri (Harrison, 2014 b )). Soil type, texture and moisture content can play an important role in the distribution of certain white grub species (Cherry & Allsopp, 1991; Allsopp et al , 1992; Logan, 1997).…”