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Glite Dictionary
Melolonthidae

Melolonthidae

9.9
A group of beetles like May beetles or chafers
  • noun
  • /ˌmɛloʊˈlɒnθɪˌdeɪ/
  • Specialized
translation icon : melolontidos
  • The cockchafer, an insect from the Melolonthidae, emerges in large numbers in spring.

Examples

  • Many species in the Melolonthidae family are known to damage crops as larvae.

  • Many species of Melolonthidae are attracted to light.

  • Scientists discovered a new member of the Melolonthidae in the rainforest.

  • The Melolonthidae are often seen in gardens during spring.

  • Many species in the Melolonthidae family are known to damage crops as larvae.

  • The cockchafer, a type of Melolonthidae, emerges in large numbers in spring.

  • The Melolonthidae beetles are often seen in gardens during the spring months.

Synonyms

melolonthid beetle
vsMelolonthidae
  • Specialized
9.9

A brown beetle like a May bug that often damages plants

is the group that may be treated as a family or subfamily
chafer
vsMelolonthidae
8.6

A beetle whose young eat plant roots and can damage lawns

emphasises the group's common naming and taxonomic classification instead

Surface Forms

Melolonthidae singular
Melolonthidae plural

Morphology

Melolonthidae = Melolontha (opaque) = Melolonth + idae

The word is a technical taxonomic formation (genus name + family suffix) that is specialized and not transparently meaningful to general learners.

Etymology

Melolonthidae comes from the older insect name Melolontha plus the scientific ending -idae, which marks an animal 'family'. So, Melolonthidae simply means the 'family' of 'May beetles' or chafers, like the cockchafer that appears in spring.