Scarab beetles are a family of over 30,000 beetles found throughout the world. French entomologist Pierre André Latreille first described them in 1802.
This family of beetles is divided into several subfamilies and various genera.
Subfamilies
Aclopinae
Aegialiinae
Allidiostomatinae
Aphodiinae
Aulonocneminae
Cetoniinae
Chironinae
Dynamopodinae
Dynastinae
Eremazinae
Melolonthinae
Orphninae
Phaenomeridinae
Rutelinae
Scarabaeinae
Termitotroginae
Cretoscarabaeinae
Lithoscarabaeinae
Prototroginae
Genera
Acanthonitis
Acoma
Actinophorus
Aegialia
Aeschrotes
Afrocanthon
Afroharoldius
Agamopus
Aganhyboma
Agestrata
Aidophus
Aleiantus
Allonitis
Altonthophagus
Amaecylius
Amblonoxia
Amphiceratodon
Amphimallon
Amphionthophagus
Amphistomus
Ancognatha
Anisocanthon
Annegialia
Anomalacra
Anomala
Anomiopsis
Anomiopsoides
Anonthobium
Anonychonitis
Anoplodrepanus
Anoplognatho
Aphengium
Aphengoecus
Aphodius
Aphonus
Aphotaenius
Apotolamprus
Aptenocanthon
Aptychonitis
Archophileurus
Arrowianella
Ataeniopsis
Ataenius
Ateuchus
Atrichius
Augosoma
Aulacium
Aulacopris
Australaphodius
Baloghonthobium
Bdelyropsis
Bdelyrus
Bohepilissus
Bolbites
Boletoscapter
Boreocanthon
Boucomontius
Byrrhidium
Caccobiomorphus
Caccocnemus
Caccophilus
Caeconthobium
Caelius
Caelontherus
Calhyboma
Callistethus
Cambefortantus
Canthidium
Canthochilum
Canthodimorpha
Canthonella
Canthonidia
Canthonosoma
Canthon
Canthotrypes
Cartwrightia
Catharsiocopris
Cephalodesmius
Cetonia
Chalcocopris
Chalconotus
Chalcosoma
Cheirolasia
Cheirotonus
Chironitis
Chlorixanthe
Chnaunanthus
Chrysina
Coenonycha
Colobonthophagus
Copridaspidus
Copris
Coprobius
Coprocanthon
Coprophanaeoides
Coprophanaeus
Coptorrhina
Coscinocephalus
Cotalpa
Cotinis
Cremastocheilus
Cryptocanthon
Cyclocephala
Cyptochirus
Deltepilissus
Deltochilum
Deltohyboma
Demarziella
Dendropaemon
Deronitis
Diaglyptus
Dialytellus
Dialytes
Diapterna
Diasomus
Dichelonyx
Dichotomius
Digitonthophagus
Dinacoma
Diorygopyx
Diplotaxis
Drepanocerus
Drepanoplatynus
Dynastes
Dyscinetus
Elassocanthon
Endrodius
Endroedyantus
Enicotarsus
Ennearabdus
Epactoides
Epilissus
Epionitis
Epirinus
Eremonthophagus
Eucanthidium
Eucranium
Eudicella
Eudinopus
Euetheola
Euhyboma
Euoniticellus
Euparia
Euparixia
Euphoria
Eurypodea
Eurysternodes
Eutrichillum
Falsignambia
Formicdubius
Fossocarus
Francmonrosia
Frankenbergerius
Freyus
Furconthophagus
Genuchinus
Geopsammodius
Gibbonthophagus
Gilletellus
Glaphyocanthon
Glaphyrocanthon
Glyphoderus
Gnorimella
Goliathus
Goniocanthon
Gromphas
Gronocarus
Gymnetina
Gymnetis
Gymnopyge
Hammondantus
Haroldiataenius
Hemiphileurus
Hologymnetis
Hoplia
Hornietus
Hypothyce
Hypotrichia
Isonychus
Leiopsammodius
Leptohoplia
Liatongus
Lissomelas
Macrodactylus
Maladera
Malagoniella
Martineziana
Mecynorhina
Megasoma
Melanocanthon
Micraegialia
Mnematidium
Mnematium
Monoplistes
Neateuchus
Neocanthidium
Neonitis
Neopachysoma
Neopsammodius
Nesocanthon
Nesosisyphus
Nesovinsonia
Nipponoserica
Notiophanaeus
Notopedaria
Nudipleurus
Odontolytes
Odontopsammodius
Oncerus
Onitis
Ontherus
Onthoecus
Onthocharis
Onthophagiellus
Onthophagus
Orizabus
Osmoderma
Oxygrylius
Oxyomus
Pachnoda
Parabyrsopolis
Paracotalpa
Parapsammodius
Parastasia
Parataenius
Pelidnota
Phanaeus
Phileurus
Phobetus
Phyllophaga
Platytomus
Plectris
Plectrodes
Pleurophorus
Podolasia
Podostena
Polyphylla
Popillia
Protaetia
Psammodius
Pseudataenius
Pseudocanthon
Pseudocotalpa
Pseudotorynorrhina
Psilocnemis
Rhysothorax
Rhyssemus
Rutela
Scarabaeus
Serica
Stephanorrhina
Strategus
Strigoderma
Taurhina
Tesarius
Thyce
Tomarus
Trichiorhyssemus
Trichiotinus
Trigonopeltastes
Valgus
Warwickia
Xeropsamobeus
Xyloryctes
Xylotrupes
Physical Description and Identification
Adult
Size: 0.15-1.6 cm
Color:They are primarily black or brown, with a metallic sheen.
Other Characteristic Features: They are stout and oval-shaped, with club-like antennae. These antennae are made up of plates which can be curled into a ball or flattened out like leaves to sense odours.
Larva
The grubs are white or pale yellow and C-shaped.
Pupa
Once they mature, the larvae tunnel deep underground to pupate.
Egg
The eggs are laid in decaying flesh, carrion, or dung.
Quick Facts
Lifespan
13-44 days
Distribution
Worldwide, except Antarctica
Habitat
Deserts, forests, and grasslands
Predators
Bats, birds, frogs, and reptiles
Seasons active
Not recorded
Diet of adults
Dung, hummus, decaying plant material
Identifying the Damage Caused by Them
Some scarabs can act as pests to certain plants but are not very threatening.
Did You Know
Ancient Egyptians held the sacred scarab beetle (Scarabaeus sacer) with great regard, with amulets resembling them being created throughout the Mediterranean.
