Scarabaeidae

(Scarab Beetles)

The family Scarabaeidae, is a group of beetles belonging to the order Coleoptera. These beetles are distributed worldwide and are found in a variety of environments from tropical rainforests to deserts. More than 30,000 species of Scarabaeidae are known worldwide, making it one of the most numerous groups among beetles.

Family Scarabaeidae Latreille, 1802

Subfamily Chironinae Blanchard, 1845
Subfamily Aegialiinae Laporte, 1840Tribe Aegialiini Laporte, 1840

• Tribe Saprinianini Nikolajev, 2011

Subfamily Eremazinae Stebnicka, 1977Tribe Eremazini Stebnicka, 1977
Subfamily Aphodiinae Leach, 1815Tribe Aphodiini Leach, 1815

• Tribe Corythoderini Schmidt, 1910
• Tribe Eupariini A. Schmidt, 1910
• Tribe Hornietiini Minkina, 2020
• Tribe Odochilini Rakovič, 1987
• Tribe Odontolochini Stebnicka & Howden, 1996
• Tribe Psammodiini Mulsant, 1842
• Tribe Rhyparini A. Schmidt, 1910
• Tribe Stereomerini Howden & Storey, 1992
• Tribe Termitoderini Tangelder & Krikken, 1982

Subfamily Aulonocneminae A. Janssens, 1946
Subfamily Termitotroginae Wasmann, 1918
Subfamily Scarabaeinae Latreille, 1802

• Tribe Ateuchini Perty, 1830
• Tribe Byrrhidiini Davis et al., 2019
• Tribe Coprini Leach, 1815
• Tribe Deltochilini Lacordaire, 1855
• Tribe Dichotomiini Pereira, 1954 P
• Tribe Endroedyolini Davis et al., 2019
• Tribe Epactoidini Rossini et al., 2022
• Tribe Epilissini van Lansberge, 1875
• Tribe Epirinini van Lansberge, 1875
• Tribe Eucraniini Burmeister, 1873
• Tribe Eurysternini Vulcano et al., 1961 H
• Tribe Gymnopleurini Streubel, 1846
• Tribe Odontolomini Davis et al., 2019
• Tribe Oniticellini Kolbe, 1905 6060
• Tribe Onitini Laporte, 1840
• Tribe Onthophagini Streubel, 1846
• Tribe Parachoriini Tarasov, 2017
• Tribe Phanaeini Hope, 1838
• Tribe Scarabaeini Latreille, 1802
• Tribe Sisyphini Mulsant, 1842

Subfamily Dynamopodinae Arrow, 1911 6161

• Tribe Dynamopodini Arrow, 1911
• Tribe Thinorycterini Semenov-Tjan-Shansky & Reichardt, 1925

Subfamily Phaenomeridinae Erichson, 1847
Subfamily Orphninae Erichson, 1847Tribe Aegidiini Paulian, 1984

• Tribe Orphnini Erichson, 1847

Subfamily Allidiostomatinae Arrow, 1940
Subfamily Aclopinae Blanchard, 1850

• Tribe Aclopini Blanchard, 1850
• Tribe Phaenognathini Iablokoff-Khnzorian, 1977

Subfamily Melolonthinae Leach, 1819

• Tribe Acomini Evans & Smith, 2020
• Tribe Ardellini Paulsen, 2021
• Tribe Athliini Smith & Evans, 2018
• Tribe Chasmatopterini Lacordaire, 1855
• Tribe Chnaunanthini Evans & Smith, 2020
• Tribe Colymbomorphini Blanchard, 1850
• Tribe Comophini Britton, 1978
• Tribe Dichelonychini Burmeister, 1855
• Tribe Diphycerini S.I. Medvedev, 1952
• Tribe Diplotaxini W. Kirby, 1837
• Tribe Euchirini Hope, 1841
• Tribe Heptophyllini S.I. Medvedev, 1951
• Tribe Hopliini Latreille, 1829
• Tribe Langbianellini Prokofiev, 2015
• Tribe Leucopholini Burmeister, 1855
• Tribe Lichniini Burmeister, 1844
• Tribe Macrodactylini W. Kirby, 1837
• Tribe Melolonthini Leach, 1819
• Tribe Pachypodini Erichson, 1840
• Tribe Pachytrichini Burmeister, 1855
• Tribe Phobetusini Evans & Smith, 2020
• Tribe Phyllotocidiini Britton, 1957
• Tribe Rhizotrogini Burmeister, 1855
• Tribe Schizonychini Burmeister, 1855
• Tribe Systellopini Sharp, 1877
• Tribe Tanyproctini Erichson, 1847
• Tribe Warwickiini Evans & Smith, 2020

Subfamily Sericinae W. Kirby, 1837

• Tribe Ablaberini Blanchard, 1850
• Tribe Diphucephalini Laporte, 1840
• Tribe Sericini W. Kirby, 1837

Subfamily Sericoidinae Erichson, 1847

• Tribe Automoliini Britton, 1978
• Tribe Heteronychini Lacordaire, 1855
• Tribe Liparetrini Burmeister, 1855
• Tribe Maechidiini Burmeister, 1855
• Tribe Phyllotocini Burmeister, 1855
• Tribe Scitalini Britton, 1957
• Tribe Sericoidini Erichson, 1847

Subfamily Oncerinae J.L. LeConte, 1861
Subfamily Podolasiinae Howden, 1997
Subfamily Rutelinae W.S. MacLeay, 1819

• Tribe Adoretini Burmeister, 1844
• Tribe Alvarengiini Frey, 1975
• Tribe Anatistini Lacordaire, 1855
• Tribe Anomalini Streubel, 1839 [NP]
• Tribe Anoplognathini W.S. MacLeay, 1819
• Tribe Geniatini Burmeister, 1844
• Tribe Rutelini W.S. MacLeay, 1819

Subfamily Dynastinae W.S. MacLeay, 1819

• Tribe Agaocephalini Burmeister, 1847
• Tribe Cyclocephalini Laporte, 1840
• Tribe Dynastini W.S. MacLeay, 1819 6969
• Tribe Hexodontini Lacordaire, 1855
• Tribe Oryctini Mulsant, 1842
• Tribe Oryctoderini Endrödi, 1966
• Tribe Pentodontini Mulsant, 1842
• Tribe Phileurini Burmeister, 1847

Subfamily Cetoniinae Leach, 1815 7070

• Tribe Cetoniini Leach, 1815
• Tribe Cremastocheilini Burmeister & Schaum, 1841
• Tribe Cryptodontini Lacordaire, 1855 H
• Tribe Diplognathini Burmeister, 1842
• Tribe Goliathini Latreille, 1829
• Tribe Gymnetini W. Kirby, 1827
• Tribe Incini Burmeister, 1842
• Tribe Osmodermatini Schenkling, 1922
• Tribe Phaedimini Schoch, 1894 H
• Tribe Platygeniini Krikken, 1984
• Tribe Schizorhinini Burmeister, 1842
• Tribe Stenotarsiini Kraatz, 1880
• Tribe Taenioderini Mikšić, 1976
• Tribe Trichiini Fleming, 1821
• Tribe Valgini Mulsant, 1842
• Tribe Xiphoscelidini Burmeister, 1842

The Scarabaeidae are characterized by a diversity of shapes, sizes and colors. Their size can range from as small as 2 millimetres to a massive 16 centimetres in some species of rhinoceros beetles. These beetles typically have a robust body with a solid exoskeleton that serves as protection from predators. On the head, they have two pairs of antennae and a powerful mouth-piece.

Among the best-known representatives of the family Scarabaeidae are the rhinoceros beetles (subfamily Dynastinae), which are famous for their characteristic horn-like growth on the head or chest.

The Scarabaeidae are ecologically important because many species serve as decomposers of organic material. Dung beetles in particular are famous for balling up animal droppings and carrying them to their burrows. In this way they help recycle nutrients and maintain soil fertility.

Some dung beetles have also become culturally important. For example, the sacred scarab beetle (Scarabaeus sacer), found in the Mediterranean region, was revered in ancient Egypt as a symbol of regeneration and resurrection.

Today, some beetle species face threats related to human activities, such as the destruction of natural habitats or the use of pesticides in agriculture. For this reason, it is important to carry out research and monitoring of these beetle populations in order to take adequate conservation measures to ensure their survival in the future.