Large body, oval outline Antennae terminate with fanlike segment Body has “polished” finish
There are more than 1400 species in this group in the United States and more than 30,000 in the world. Two of the most common at the beach are:
May Beetle (Phyllophaga fusca): A large cylindrical brown body. Also called “June Bug,” in May and June it is frequently discovered at night flying to a light.
Japanese Beetle (Popillia japonica): The head and forebody are metallic green; the wings are copper color. Introduced from the Orient about fifty years ago, these beetles do great damage to many kinds of plants.
Snout Beetles or Weevils (Curculionidae)
Small, roundish body Dull, uninteresting color Long tube (snout) on head
These are very common beetles on the dunes. Their long snout is used to drill into seeds and plant tissues. None of our species do great harm, but they have some unpleasant relatives—the Plum Curculio (Conotrachelus nenuphar) and the Cotton Boll Weevil (Anthonomus grandis).
Ladybug Beetles (Coccinellidae)
Hemispherical shape Brightly colored