Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Melolonthinae
Length: 5-11 mm
Serica is a pretty distinctive genus, but separating its species can prove a daunting task. R.W. Dawson was the authority on the genus (he died in 1967). Dawson stated repeatedly that dissection of the male genitalia was the proper way to identify a particular Serica to species.
Speaking of Serica beetles, Professor Phillip Harpootlian recalls, "Dawson did not believe in providing lengthy descriptions because he did not want anyone to believe that they could actually determine them that way." (Harpootlian, 2001).
