Scarab Beetles
Scarabaeidae
Classification
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
- Family: Scarabaeidae
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Scarabaeidae: //skærəˈbiːɪdiː//
These audio files are automatically generated. While they are not always 100% accurate, they are a good starting point.
Images
Summary
Scarabaeidae is a large family of beetles known for their stout bodies and bright colors, including notable groups such as dung beetles and rhinoceros beetles. They play essential ecological roles, particularly as decomposers, and possess unique anatomical features like clubbed antennae.
Physical Characteristics
Scarabs are stout-bodied beetles, many with bright metallic colours, measuring between 1.5 and 160 millimetres (0.059 and 6.3 in). They have distinctive, clubbed antennae composed of plates called lamellae that can be compressed into a ball or fanned out like leaves to sense odours. Many species are fossorial, with legs adapted for digging. In some groups, males and sometimes females have prominent horns on the head and/or pronotum.
Identification Tips
Look for stout bodies and clubbed antennae. Many species exhibit bright metallic colors. Males often have prominent horns used in combat over mates or resources.
Habitat
Scarabs are commonly found in various environments as scavengers, living underground or in decaying materials. Certain species are fossorial, while others may inhabit foliage or agricultural areas as plant-eaters or pests.
Distribution
Over 35,000 species worldwide, with around 1,700 species in ~125 genera in the Nearctic region, including ~1,400 north of Mexico and ~240 in Canada & Alaska.
Diet
Adults feed on a variety of foods, including fungus, dung, carrion, decaying plant material, sap, pollen, nectar, fruit, and foliage. Larvae typically feed on decomposing matter or roots in the soil.
Life Cycle
Adult beetles undergo complete metamorphosis, with a larval stage known as grubs that are C-shaped, pale yellow or white, and typically live underground.
Reproduction
Details on reproduction were not specified in the provided material but generally involve mating displays and may include competition involving male horns.
Ecosystem Role
Scarabs play a vital role in recycling nutrients as scavengers, decomposing dung and carrion, which benefits soil health and facilitates plant growth. Some species are also important pollinators.
Economic Impact
Some scarab species, like the Japanese beetle, are considered agricultural pests that can cause significant damage to crops and vegetation.
Cultural Significance
In Ancient Egypt, dung beetles, particularly Scarabaeus sacer, were revered as sacred and associated with regeneration and the sun, leading to the production of amulets throughout the Mediterranean.
Evolution
The taxonomy of the Scarabaeidae has undergone significant changes, with some groups being elevated to family rank.
Similar Taxa
- Hybosoridae
- Geotrupidae
- Bolboceratidae
Misconceptions
Some individuals may mistakenly classify all beetles with similar appearances as scarabs without recognizing the diversity within the family.
Tags
- scarab beetles
- Scarabaeidae
- insects
- beetle
- ecosystem