........Valgus hemipterus Linnaeus, 1758
........Valgus hemipterus Linnaeus, 1758:351 (valid name)
........Valgus hemipterus rufosquamatus Dalla Torre, 1879:115 (junior synonym)
........Valgus hemipterus rubi Baguena, 1955:293 (junior synonym)

male	female
Valgus hemipterus . Images by K. A. Swoboda
Map showing the distribution of Valgus hemipterus.

Key to species of Valgini

Description: Pronotal disc serrate along lateral edges, transverse medial ridges not well developed, basal margin rounded; female with acuminate pygidial spine with central groove near apex, groove with irregular lateral serrations; in both sexes, first segment of posterior tarsus as long as segments two, three and four combined; both sexes black with dark setae, patches of light-colored setae on pronotum and elytra, males with abundant light-colored setae on propygidium and pygidium, females with less light-colored setae on propygidium and pygidium; length 8.0-9.0mm.

Distribution: Palaearctic (Algeria, Europe, Iran, Morocco, southern Sibera and Tunisia) and Nearctic:CANADA: Ontario. USA: Michigan, Ohio.

Biological Data: Larvae have been collected in summer, and pupae and teneral adults in the early fall, suggesting a univoltine life cycle with adults and pupae overwintering. Adult females are attracted to moist, rotting wood to oviposit, although oviposition has been observed in fairly dry wood and in living trees. Females leave colonized wood to seek out new oviposition sites in early summer and use their pygidial spines to create such sites. The entire life cycle of Valgus hemipterus can be completed within a log, and Nearctic specimens have been taken from rotting wood of the American elm (Ulmus americana L.). Oak, birch, elm, and chestnut are common host trees in Europe.

Temporal Distribution: Nearctic: May-June. Palearctic: April- June and October-November.

Larvae: Larvae are not associated with termites, although comparisons have been made between larval galleries tunnelled by Valgus hemipterus and those formed by termites. Medvedev (1969) described the third-stage larvae.

References:
FALLOU, J. 1889. Sur les ravages causes par deux coleopteres nuisibles des environs de Paris. Rev. Sci. Nat. app. 36:58-64.

JAMESON, M.L. and K.A. SWOBODA. 2005. Synopsis of scarab beetle tribe Valgini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae) in the New World. Ann. Entomol. Soc. Am. 98(5): 658-672.

KRIKKEN, J. 1986. Provisional checklist of the Valginae (Coleoptera: Cetoniinae). Haroldius 1:1-17.

MAHAR, J. 1989. A new location for Valgus hemipterus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Great Lakes Entomologist 22(1):55.

MAHAR, J. and M.P. OEMKE. 1981. A North American record for Valgus hemipterus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) and information on its life cycle. Great Lakes Entomologist 14(2):77-79.

MEDVEDEV, S.I. 1969. On the larvae of Valgus hemipterus L. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Entomol. Rev. 48:100-101.

SCHENKLING, S. 1922. Coleopterorum Catalogus, pars. 75. Scarabaeidae: Trichiinae, Valginae. West Junk, Berlin. 58 pp.