Scarabaeidae

Definition

A large family of beetles (order Coleoptera) comprising more than 35,000 described species worldwide, commonly known as scarabs or scarab beetles. Members typically exhibit lamellate, clubbed antennae with plate-like segments that can be fanned open, and many possess robust, often convex bodies adapted for burrowing, dung-rolling, or plant-feeding. The family includes diverse ecologically significant groups: dung beetles (Scarabaeinae), rhinoceros beetles (Dynastinae), June beetles and chafers (Melolonthinae), flower chafers (Cetoniinae), and shining leaf chafers (Rutelinae). Classification has been historically unstable, with several former subfamilies elevated to family rank in recent treatments.

Etymology

From Scarabaeus (type genus, from Greek skarabeios, a beetle) + -idae (family suffix)

Example

The African dung beetle Scarabaeus sacer, a member of Scarabaeidae, was sacred in ancient Egyptian religion and exemplifies the subfamily Scarabaeinae's ecological role in nutrient cycling.

Synonyms

• Scarab beetles
• scarabs

Related Terms

• Coleoptera
• Dynastinae
• Scarabaeinae
• Melolonthinae
• Cetoniinae
• Rutelinae
• lamellate antenna
• Scarabaeoidea

Usage Notes

The circumscription of Scarabaeidae has contracted significantly in modern taxonomy; groups such as Geotrupidae (earth-boring dung beetles) and Trogidae (hide beetles) are now treated as separate families. When used broadly in older literature, 'Scarabaeidae' may encompass these segregate families. The family remains one of the most species-rich and ecologically diverse within Coleoptera, with larvae and adults occupying distinct trophic niches in most cases.