A Day in the Life: Diel Rhythms of Locomotor Activity in the Male Flower Chafer Beetle Valgus canaliculatus (Olivier) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

We determined the diel locomotor activity of the generalist florivore Valgus canaliculatus (Olivier, 1789) under controlled 12:12 h light-dark conditions. Males exhibited a diurnal activity pattern, with peak activity in mid-photophase and inactivity during scotophase. These findings indicate that photic cues alone stimulate a rhythmic, diurnal activity pattern, which likely helps these beetles better coordinate activity with resource availability to maximize foraging and dispersal strategies.