Larval description with notes on biology of Holotrichia fissa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from central India

Though economically important, the field of description of larval morphology and taxonomy of Scarabs is restricted to a very few publications specifically from India. This study was planned to study and document the morphology of developmental stages of one of the most commonly occurring species of scarab, Holotrichia fissa (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) from central India. Here we describe in detail the morphological characteristics of egg, first, second and third instar larva and pupa along with notes on biology of the species. The details of third instar larva are described focussing on the structure of Cranium, Antenna, Labrum, Clypeus, Epipharynx, Mandibles, Maxilla, Thorax, Abdomen, and Raster pattern. This study adds to the knowledge of morphology of the developmental stages the species.