Ecological and Biological Studies of Some Species of Scarabaeidae and Life Cycle of Phyllognathus excavatus Forster in Damascus Countryside, Syria

This study was conducted in 2008 and 2009 in two areas of Damascus countryside to investigate the flight activity of Scarabaeidae adults, and life cycle of Phyllognathus excavates. Differences were found in adults emergence among the subfamilies, species which overwinter as adults in the pupal mud cell emerged in spring and early summer, as Cetoniinae, Aphodiinae, Scarabaeinae and Dynastinae (March to May and June), species which overwinters as matured larvae emerged late in summer as Melolonthinae (first June to first August). The life cycle of Ph. excavatus lasted for two years. Adults flight was recorded from April to early August with a peak in May. This species overwinters as third instar larvae in the first year and as adults in the pupal cell in the second year. Adults lay their eggs in the dung piles.