Scarab-beetles
Guides
Acomini
Acomini is a tribe of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae) established by Evans & Smith in 2020. The tribe is known from limited observations, with iNaturalist documenting only 10 records. As a recently described taxonomic group, its constituent genera and species remain poorly documented in public sources.
Aegialia
Aegialia is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Latreille in 1807. Species in this genus are distributed across the Palaearctic, Nearctic, and Neotropical regions. The genus includes the subgenus Silluvia, with several species described from the Sino-Tibetan mountains of China.
Ancognatha
Ancognatha is a genus of rhinoceros beetles (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae: Cyclocephalini) comprising 22 described species. It represents the fourth most species-rich genus of Neotropical cyclocephaline scarabs. Species in this genus are distinguished from related taxa by their predominance in montane habitats at high elevations, in contrast to the lowland preferences of most other cyclocephalines.
Anomala
Pale and Green Leaf Chafers, Shining Leaf Chafers
Anomala is a large genus of scarab beetles containing at least 1,200 described species, commonly known as shining leaf chafers or pale and green leaf chafers. Members are recognized by their metallic or iridescent coloration and compact, oval body shape. The genus includes significant agricultural pests, most notably the Oriental beetle (Anomala orientalis), which was introduced to North America before 1920 and has become established from Maine to the Carolinas and westward. Larvae of many species are root-feeding white grubs that damage turfgrass and ornamental plants.
Aphodiinae
Small Dung Beetles
Aphodiinae is a large and diverse subfamily of Scarabaeidae comprising more than 3,500 described species across over 380 genera and 12 tribes. Members are commonly known as small dung beetles, though not all species are associated with dung. The subfamily exhibits varied life strategies including coprophagy, detritivory, saprophagy, predation, inquilinism in ant or termite nests, and sand-dwelling habits. Aphodiines are found worldwide in diverse habitats from temperate rainforests to alpine zones and coastal dunes.
Bolbocerosoma
earth-boring scarab beetles
Bolbocerosoma is a genus of earth-boring scarab beetles in the family Geotrupidae. The genus contains approximately 13 described species distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. These beetles are part of the subfamily Bolboceratinae, tribe Odonteini. The genus was established by Schaeffer in 1906 and has been subject to taxonomic revision by Howden (1955).
Caligodorus
Caligodorus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described in 2007 by Gordon and Skelley. The genus belongs to the tribe Aphodiini, a group commonly known as small dung beetles or aphodiine dung beetles. Very few observations exist in public databases, suggesting either restricted distribution, cryptic habits, or recent taxonomic recognition.
Cetoniinae
Fruit and Flower Chafers, Flower Chafers, Flower Scarabs, Flower Beetles
Cetoniinae is a diverse subfamily of scarab beetles comprising approximately 4,000 species, many still undescribed. Adults are commonly known as fruit and flower chafers due to their frequent association with flowers for pollen and nectar, and their consumption of fruit. Many species exhibit bright coloration and distinctive patterns. The subfamily is characterized by a unique flight mechanism in which the elytra remain closed during flight while the membranous hind wings deploy through a specialized hinge, producing a bee-like flight appearance. Members occupy varied habitats including forests, grasslands, agricultural areas, and urban parks across tropical and temperate regions worldwide.
Codocera
Codocera is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Ochodaeidae, commonly referred to as sand-loving scarab beetles. The genus contains at least three described species distributed across the Palaearctic region. Members of this genus are associated with sandy habitats, reflecting the ecological specialization characteristic of the family Ochodaeidae.
Cotinis
Green June Beetles
Cotinis is a genus of flower chafer scarab beetles in the subfamily Cetoniinae, distributed throughout North and South America. The genus was erected by Hermann Burmeister in 1842 and contains approximately 25 species. At least two species, C. nitida (Green June Beetle) and C. mutabilis (Fig Beetle), are recognized as common agricultural and garden pests. Members are characterized by their distinctive flight mechanism where hardened elytra remain closed while membranous hindwings extend for flight, producing a bee-like appearance and sound.
Cremastocheilini
Predatory Chafers
Cremastocheilini is a tribe of scarab beetles within the subfamily Cetoniinae, comprising approximately 50 genera. Members of this tribe are commonly known as "Predatory Chafers." Many species are known to associate with ants, living within their nests. The tribe was established by Burmeister and Schaum in 1841.
Cucochodaeus
Cucochodaeus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Ochodaeidae, described by Paulsen in 2007. The genus contains one described species, C. sparsus. Members of this genus are associated with sandy habitats. The family Ochodaeidae is commonly known as sand-loving scarab beetles.
Cyclocephala
Masked Chafers
Cyclocephala is a large genus of scarab beetles in the subfamily Dynastinae, commonly known as masked chafers. Adults are small brown beetles (10–15 mm) with a distinctive black facial mask across the eyes. The genus is endemic to the Americas, ranging from southeastern Canada to Argentina, India, and the West Indies. Adults are nocturnal or crepuscular and attracted to lights. Larvae develop in soil, feeding on organic matter and plant roots, and are significant pests of turfgrass.
Cyclocephalini
Masked Chafers and Rice Beetles
Cyclocephalini is a tribe of scarab beetles within the subfamily Dynastinae, comprising 14 genera and over 500 species. The tribe includes the most speciose genus of dynastines, Cyclocephala, with more than 350 species. Members are primarily Neotropical in distribution and are commonly known as masked chafers and rice beetles. These beetles are strongly associated with flowers, serving as pollinators and florivores, with many species exhibiting specialized relationships with palm inflorescences and other flowering plants.
Diapterna
Diapterna is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Horn in 1887. The genus contains six described species distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Species in this genus are small to medium-sized scarab beetles associated with dung and decaying organic matter. Like other aphodiines, they are classified as 'dwellers' that feed and reproduce within dung rather than constructing tunnels.
Dynastes
Hercules beetles
Dynastes is a genus of large scarab beetles in the subfamily Dynastinae, commonly known as Hercules beetles. Males are distinguished by prominent cephalic and pronotal horns used in combat, while females lack horns. The genus exhibits remarkable hygrochromic color change, with elytra shifting between black and yellow-green depending on humidity levels. Eight species are currently recognized, distributed from the United States through Central America to South America. Larvae develop in rotting wood, with some species reaching exceptional sizes.
Hybosorinae
Scavenger Scarab Beetles
Hybosorinae is a subfamily of small scarab beetles in the family Hybosoridae. The subfamily contains at least one extant genus, Hybosorus, along with several extinct genera. Members are commonly referred to as scavenger scarab beetles. At least some species are termitophilous, living in association with termite colonies.
Isonychus
May beetles, junebugs
Isonychus is a genus of scarab beetles in the subfamily Melolonthinae, commonly known as May beetles or junebugs. The genus contains more than 140 described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical and Nearctic regions. These beetles are part of the tribe Macrodactylini and are characterized by their typical scarab morphology. The genus was established by Mannerheim in 1828.
Lichnanthe
Lichnanthe, bumble bee scarab beetles
Lichnanthe is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Glaphyridae, commonly known as bumble bee scarab beetles. The genus contains approximately 10 described species distributed in North America. Members are known for their resemblance to bumble bees, an apparent case of mimicry. The genus was established by Burmeister in 1844.
Ligyrus
Ligyrus is a genus of scarab beetles in the tribe Pentodontini, distributed across the Americas. The genus was erected by Hermann Burmeister in 1847, subsequently merged with Tomarus, and restored as a valid genus in 2022 based on phylogenetic and morphological evidence. It contains approximately 16 recognized species, including the economically significant carrot beetle (Ligyrus gibbosus). Species are assigned to two subgenera: Ligyrodes and Ligyrus.
Macrodactylini
Macrodactylini beetles
Macrodactylini is a tribe of scarab beetles within the subfamily Melolonthinae, commonly associated with May beetles and junebugs. The tribe contains at least 46 genera and over 1,000 described species, though estimates vary among sources. Members are classified in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. The tribe was established by Kirby in 1837.
Melolonthinae
June Beetles, June bugs, cockchafers, May beetles
Melolonthinae is a large and diverse subfamily of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) containing over 11,000 species in more than 750 genera, distributed worldwide. Adults range from 3 to 58 mm in length and are typically brown or black, often with setae or scales. The subfamily includes economically important pests such as the Melolontha cockchafers and Phyllophaga May beetles, whose larvae feed on plant roots while adults feed on foliage or may be non-feeding. Many species exhibit pronounced sexual dimorphism in antennae, with males bearing large lamellate antennae to detect female sex pheromones.
Neopsammodius
Neopsammodius is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Rakovič in 1986. The genus comprises nine described species distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. These beetles belong to the tribe Psammodiini, a group associated with sandy habitats. Species within this genus were originally described under other genera and later transferred to Neopsammodius.
Ochodaeidae
Sand-loving Scarab Beetles
Ochodaeidae is a small family of scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) commonly known as sand-loving scarab beetles. The family is distributed globally and contains two subfamilies: Chaetocanthinae and Ochodaeinae. Members are distinguished by crenulated or serrated mesotibial spurs. The biology and habits of most species remain poorly known, with many collected in sandy areas at night.
Odontolytes
Odontolytes is a genus of small dung beetles within the subfamily Aphodiinae, family Scarabaeidae. Established by Koshantschikov in 1916, the genus comprises approximately 19 described species. Members are classified in the tribe Eupariini, a group often associated with decaying organic matter and detritus rather than fresh dung. The genus has a Neotropical distribution.
Oncerinae
Oncerinae is a small subfamily of scarab beetles containing only two genera, each with a single species: Nefoncerus convergens in the Neotropics and Oncerus floralis in North America. The group has been historically unstable in classification, sometimes treated as a tribe (Oncerini) within Melolonthinae. Its limited diversity and disjunct geographic distribution make it a minor but taxonomically distinct lineage within Scarabaeidae.
Oxyomoides
Oxyomoides is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was erected in 2016 by Dellacasa, Dellacasa & Gordon. The genus belongs to the tribe Aphodiini, a group commonly known as aphodiine dung beetles. As a recently described genus, its species composition and biology remain poorly documented.
Parochodaeus
Parochodaeus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Ochodaeidae, established by Nikolajev in 1995. The genus contains more than 20 described species distributed primarily in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Members are commonly referred to as sand-loving scarab beetles, reflecting their association with sandy substrates. Species occur in western South America, with records from Peru, Argentina, and Chile, where they have been documented traversing Andean distributional corridors.
Phyllophaga
May beetles, June bugs, June beetles, July beetles
Phyllophaga is a large genus of New World scarab beetles comprising over 900 species. Adults are nocturnal, attracted to artificial lights, and feed on foliage of trees and shrubs. Larvae are soil-dwelling white grubs that feed on plant roots. The genus is economically significant as both adults and larvae can cause damage to agricultural crops and turf. Some species exhibit flightlessness and diurnal activity, representing derived traits within the genus.
Planolinellus
Planolinellus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The genus was established by Dellacasa & Dellacasa in 2005. It belongs to the tribe Aphodiini and is part of the diverse group of dung beetles and related taxa within the scarab family. Species in this genus are small to medium-sized beetles associated with decomposing organic matter.
Plectris
May beetles, Junebugs
Plectris is a large genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as May beetles or Junebugs. The genus contains over 360 described species, making it one of the more species-rich genera within the subfamily Melolonthinae. Members of this genus are distributed across the Neotropical region. The genus was established by Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau and Audinet-Serville in 1828.
Pseudagolius
Pseudagolius is a genus of scarab beetles in the subfamily Aphodiinae, established by Schmidt in 1914. It belongs to the tribe Aphodiini, a group commonly known as small dung beetles. The genus is recognized in the Nearctic region, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Scabrostomus
Scabrostomus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The genus was established in 2007 by Gordon and Skelley based on Nearctic species. It belongs to the tribe Aphodiini, a group commonly known as small dung beetles. Very little published information exists on the biology or ecology of this genus.
Scarabaeinae
true dung beetles, dung beetles
Scarabaeinae is a subfamily of scarab beetles comprising the true dung beetles. Adults typically feed on dung, though some species consume carrion, decaying fruit, or fungi. The subfamily is divided into three functional guilds—rollers (telecoprids), tunnelers (paracoprids), and dwellers (endocoprids)—based on dung processing behavior. Members exhibit modified mouthparts with an expanded clypeus covering the mandibles, and possess a space between the middle legs for dung manipulation. The subfamily originated in the Lower Cretaceous (115–130 million years ago) and is hypothesized to have co-evolved with dinosaurs.