Costelytra zealandica | |
---|---|
![]() | |
Scientific classification ![]() | |
Domain: | Eukaryota |
Kingdom: | Animalia |
Phylum: | Arthropoda |
Class: | Insecta |
Order: | Coleoptera |
Family: | Scarabaeidae |
Genus: | Costelytra |
Species: | C. zealandica
|
Binomial name | |
Costelytra zealandica (White, 1846)
| |
Synonyms | |
Rhisotrogus zealandica White, 1846 |
Costelytra zealandica (commonly known as the grass grub)[1] is a species of scarab beetle found in forested areas of greater Wellington.[2][3] It was originally described in 1846 by the British entomologist Adam White as Rhisotrogus zealandicus from a specimen obtained during the Ross expedition.[4] The species is known to feed on roots of plants and trees, so is considered a pest for many farm pastures.[1]
Prior to 2016, the New Zealand grass grub was mischaracterized as C. zealandica. In 2016 Coca-Abia and Romero-Samper found differences in syntype specimens between White's (1846) C. zealandica[4] and Given's (1952) description and revised the species name of the latter to Costelytra giveni after Given.[3][5]