Masked Chafer, Cyclocephala sp.

In summer, Masked Chafers appear in large numbers at lights in the suburbs and also natural areas throughout Southern California, including the San Dieguito River Park. The name Masked Chafer comes from the fact that some species have a dark band between the eyes, creating a mask-like appearance. Although Masked Chafers look like "June Bugs," they are actually more closely related to the spectacular horned Rhinoceros Beetles.

Text and Photo by Robyn Waayers. Robyn has been a resident of San Diego County since 1977, and is a biology instructor at Palomar, Miramar and Southwestern Colleges, and is also a freelance nature photographer. Contact information: rwaayers@aol.com

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