Diphucephala Dejean, 1821

Sub family: Melolonthinae / Tribe: Diphucephalini / Genus: Diphucephala

Small, oblong shaped beetles. Body length 4-10mm, body colouration metallic green, blue or cupreous. Labrum extended in front of clypeus, visible from above, fused with clypeus but separable by transverse ridge or declivity, or rarely by lateral traces of a suture. Circular fovea (pit) present near lateral edge of the pronotal disc. Elytra punctate, arranged in rows. Ventral body surfaces covered in flattened white setae. Claws bifid, and 0-2 apical spurs on the metatibia, placed below tarsal articulation.

Diphucephala is an Australian genus of Melolonthinae containing 68 species. All members of the tribe Diphucephalini share the metallic colouration of Diphucephala, along with circular foveas on each side of the pronotal disc near the mid lateral angle, and strong  bifid claws.

The genus differs from the other tribal members by its frontally fused labrum (located below the clypeus in Watkinsia and Cunderdina), ventral surface setae (may or may not be lacking in Watkinsia and Cunderdina), and differences in the metatibial apical spurs (Diphucephala: 0-2; both Watkinsia and Cunderdina: 0-1).

The genus Watkinsinia is also only known from high altitude (above 1000m) rainforest areas in NSW and QLD.

Very little has been recorded for the biology of most species of Diphucephala. Species have been observed feeding on native yellow flowering flora, especially Acacia. Other species have been observed feeding on the leaves of trees and occasionally swarming on grape vines and bean plants. D. colaspidoides beetles have been recorded on pome and stone fruit foliage in SA, while its larvae have been recorded from Tasmanian pastures.  D. lineata have been recorded causing defoliation of Melaleuca.

The genus Diphucephala is found right across the lower half of Australia, from South-West WA to Tasmania, and then northwards into Far-North Queensland. It is absent from the Northern Territory and North-West WA.

Brisbane Insects- in-Life photographs: https://www.brisbaneinsects.com/brisbane_scarabs/GreenScarab.htm

Britton, E.B. 1995. A synopsis of the Genera of Diphucephalini (Coleoptera : Scarabaeidae : Melolonthinae) including Watkinsia gen. nov. et spp. nov. Invertebrate Taxonomy 9(1): 115-128

Hely P.C., Pasfield G., Gellatley G.J. 1982. Insect Pests of Fruit and Vegetables in New South Wales. Inkata Press, Melbourne. pp.312