Scarabaeidae
Guides
Ataenius setiger
Ataenius setiger is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It occurs in Central America and North America, with records from Mexico and the southwestern United States. As a member of the genus Ataenius, it belongs to a group of small scarab beetles commonly associated with dung and decomposing organic matter.
Ataenius strigatus
Ataenius strigatus is a small aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. The species was originally described by Thomas Say in 1823 as Aphodius strigatus. It occurs across much of North America and extends into Central America. Like other members of the genus, it is associated with decomposing organic matter.
Ataenius texanus
Ataenius texanus is a small aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Harold in 1874. It occurs across a broad geographic range spanning the southern United States, Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. The species is closely related to Ataenius hesperius, which has a more western distribution.
Ateuchus histeroides Weber, 1801
Ateuchus histeroides is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae. Laboratory studies have examined its feeding behavior, though specific dietary habits remain incompletely documented. The species occurs widely across the eastern and central United States. It is a member of the genus Ateuchus, a diverse group of scarab beetles often associated with dung and detritus.
Ateuchus lecontei
Ateuchus lecontei is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Harold in 1868. The species is native to the Nearctic region, with records from the eastern and southeastern United States. It has been introduced to Hawaii and other Oceania locations. Very few documented observations exist, with only 14 records on iNaturalist.
Ateuchus texanus
Ateuchus texanus is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Robinson in 1948. It belongs to a genus known for dung-rolling and tunneling behaviors. The species occurs in parts of the southern United States and Mexico.
Australaphodius
Australaphodius is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Balthasar in 1942. The genus contains at least four described species, with records from Australia. As aphodiines, members of this genus are likely associated with dung decomposition, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Ballucus
Ballucus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was established 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. Ballucus is currently classified within the Nearctic region, though specific details about its constituent species and biology remain limited in published literature.
Boreocanthon depressipennis
A small dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, recorded from sand dune habitats in eastern New Mexico. Observed rolling rodent scats, suggesting a role in processing small mammal waste in arid environments. The genus Boreocanthon comprises dung beetles with distributions centered in western North America.
Boreocanthon melanus
Boreocanthon melanus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Robinson in 1948. The genus Boreocanthon comprises small dung beetles primarily distributed in North America. This species has been observed in sand dune habitats in eastern New Mexico, where individuals were seen rolling small rodent scats.
Boreocanthon praticola
Boreocanthon praticola is a small dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. Its distribution spans the Great Plains from southern Canada to Texas, extending into the American Southwest and northwestern Mexico. The species exhibits a strong ecological association with prairie dog colonies, where it feeds primarily on prairie dog dung pellets. It has been documented in the fossil record from the La Brea tar pits in California, indicating a broader historical range.
Boreocanthon simplex
Boreocanthon simplex is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, native to western North America. It exhibits exceptional morphological and color variation compared to congeners, leading to speculation that it may represent multiple cryptic species. The species demonstrates remarkable ecological versatility, occurring across diverse habitats and elevations from below 300 m to above 3,000 m. Its remains have been recovered from the La Brea tar pits, indicating a long presence in the region.
Calamosternus
Calamosternus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Motschulsky in 1859. The genus contains more than 20 described species and is classified within the subfamily Aphodiinae (dung beetles). Taxonomic treatment varies: some authorities recognize Calamosternus as a distinct genus, while NCBI Taxonomy treats it as a subgenus of Aphodius. The genus has a Palaearctic distribution with some records from North America.
Caligodorus vandykei
Caligodorus vandykei is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The species was described by Barret in 1931 and is known from California, USA. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized aphodiine scarabs associated with dung and decomposing organic matter.
Canthidium
Canthidium is a genus of small dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, containing at least 170 described species. Species in this genus are primarily neotropical and exhibit a characteristic "sit and wait" foraging strategy, perching on leaves to detect dung through chemoreception. They are classified as tunnelers, constructing burrows beneath dung deposits. Their small body size (often under 10 mm) influences their foraging ecology and resource partitioning strategies within diverse dung beetle communities.
Canthon
tumblebugs, dung rollers
Canthon is a genus of ball-rolling dung beetles (telocoprids) commonly known as tumblebugs, distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Adults are known for their distinctive behavior of forming dung balls and rolling them away from source material for feeding or nesting. The genus exhibits notable behavioral diversity, with some species employing 'sit and wait' perching strategies to detect dung through chemoreception, while others actively follow animals. Several species show color polymorphism that may be linked to thermal adaptation and elevational distribution.
Canthon floridanus
Canthon floridanus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Brown in 1946. It is native to the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, occurring in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other members of the genus Canthon, it is a dung-rolling beetle that constructs brood balls from fecal material.
Canthon humectus
Canthon humectus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, originally described by Thomas Say in 1832 as Ateuchus humectus. The species belongs to the genus Canthon, commonly known as tumblebugs, which are characterized by their habit of rolling dung into balls. It is recognized as having eight subspecies, including the nominate subspecies Canthon humectus humectus. The species has been reported from North America and Oceania, with confirmed presence in Hawaii.
Canthon indigaceus
Canthon indigaceus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by LeConte in 1866. It belongs to the tribe Canthonini, a group of dung beetles recognized as a relict of the ancient supercontinent Gondwanaland. The species is currently listed as Least Concern by the IUCN, with no immediate threats to its survival identified. Three subspecies are recognized: C. i. chevrolati, C. i. chiapas, and C. i. indigaceus.
Canthon vigilans
vigilant dung beetle, Vigilant Tumblebug
Canthon vigilans, commonly known as the vigilant dung beetle or Vigilant Tumblebug, is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is a member of the tribe Canthonini, which includes roller dung beetles. The species is found across much of North America, from southern Canada through the eastern and central United States. As a tumblebug, it exhibits the characteristic behavior of forming dung balls and rolling them away for burial and larval provisioning.
Cephalocyclus
Cephalocyclus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The genus was established in 1998 and is known from the Mexican Transition zone within the Neotropical region. As an aphodiine dung beetle genus, its members likely participate in dung decomposition processes, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Cephalocyclus luteolus
Cephalocyclus luteolus is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It is native to the southwestern United States, with confirmed records from Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Utah. The species was described by George Henry Horn in 1887. Like other members of the genus Cephalocyclus, it belongs to the dung beetle tribe Aphodiini, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Chlorixanthe
fruit and flower chafers
Chlorixanthe is a genus of fruit and flower chafers in the beetle family Scarabaeidae, established by Bates in 1889. The genus contains at least three described species, including Chlorixanthe flavoviridis and Chlorixanthe propinqua. These beetles belong to the subfamily Cetoniinae, a group commonly associated with feeding on flowers and fruits. The genus is distributed in the Neotropical region.
Chrysina
Jewel Scarabs
Chrysina is a genus of large, charismatic scarab beetles commonly known as jewel scarabs. Adults are noted for their brilliant metallic iridescence, with coloration ranging from silver and gold to green, blue, and purple. The genus contains approximately 100 species distributed from the southwestern United States through Mexico and Central America to northern South America. Adults are nocturnal and readily attracted to lights. Larvae develop in decaying wood.
Chrysina beyeri
Beyer's scarab, Beyer's jewel scarab
Chrysina beyeri, commonly known as Beyer's scarab or Beyer's jewel scarab, is a species of shining leaf chafer in the family Scarabaeidae. This bright green beetle is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, with records from southeastern Arizona, Texas, and the Mexican states of Chihuahua, Sinaloa, and Sonora. The species is known to come to mercury-vapor and ultraviolet lights at night in oak/juniper woodland habitats.
Cinacanthus hirsutus
Cinacanthus hirsutus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described by Brown in 1928. The species is known from the Nearctic region, with records from western North America including British Columbia, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Oregon, and Washington. As a member of the Aphodiinae, it is presumed to be associated with dung decomposition, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Cinacanthus ulkei
Cinacanthus ulkei is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described by Robert Gordon in 2006. The species is known from the central United States, with confirmed records from Colorado and Nebraska. As a member of the Aphodiinae, it belongs to a group commonly known as dung beetles, though many aphodiines are also associated with decaying plant matter.
Coelotrachelus rudis
Coelotrachelus rudis is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, specifically within the subfamily Aphodiinae. The species was described by LeConte in 1878 and is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. It belongs to a genus of dung beetles, though specific ecological details about this particular species remain limited in the available literature.
Coenonycha
May beetles, Junebugs
Coenonycha is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as May beetles or Junebugs. The genus contains more than 30 described species. Members of this genus are classified within the subfamily Melolonthinae and tribe Dichelonychini.
Colpa octomaculata hermione
Colpa octomaculata hermione is a subspecies of scoliid wasp, a group commonly known as mammoth wasps. The parent species Colpa octomaculata is native to North America. Scoliid wasps are large-bodied parasitoids whose larvae develop on scarabaeid beetle grubs. Recent phylogenetic research indicates the genus Colpa is sister to the tribe Scoliini, which renders the tribe Campsomerini non-monophyletic. This subspecies represents part of a taxonomic group that has historically lacked modern systematic treatment.
Copris arizonensis
Copris arizonensis is a dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Schaeffer in 1906. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Like other members of the genus Copris, it is associated with dung processing and soil burrowing behaviors typical of scarabaeine dung beetles.
Copris fricator
Frigid Dung Beetle
Copris fricator is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. The species is known from northeastern North America, with records from Ontario, Québec, and Vermont. It belongs to the genus Copris, a group of dung beetles that typically construct burrows beneath dung deposits and provision them with dung for larval development.
Copris howdeni
Howden's copri
Copris howdeni is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is native to the southeastern United States, with records from Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and Virginia. Like other members of the genus Copris, it is likely associated with mammal dung for feeding and larval development. The species was described by Matthews and Halffter in 1959.
Copris inemarginatus
Copris inemarginatus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Blatchley in 1918. As a member of the genus Copris, it belongs to a group of tunneling dung beetles that bury dung for larval provisioning. The species has been documented in Florida, USA. Information regarding its specific ecology, behavior, and detailed morphology remains limited in available sources.
Copris macclevei
Copris macclevei is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Warner in 1990. It belongs to the genus Copris, a group of dung beetles known for their role in nutrient cycling and soil aeration through dung burial behaviors. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Copris remotus
Copris remotus is a North American dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. The species was described by LeConte in 1866. Two subspecies are recognized: Copris remotus remotus (the nominate subspecies) and Copris remotus dicyrtus, described by Matthews and Halffter in 1959. As a member of the genus Copris, it belongs to a group of dung beetles that provision burrows with dung for larval development.
Coscinocephalus
Coscinocephalus is a genus of rhinoceros beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Prell in 1936. The genus comprises at least two described species: Coscinocephalus cribrifrons, described by Schaeffer in 1906, and Coscinocephalus tepehuanus, described by Morón & Ratcliffe in 1996. Members of this genus belong to the subfamily Dynastinae and tribe Pentodontini, placing them among the smaller rhinoceros beetles.
Coscinocephalus cribrifrons
Coscinocephalus cribrifrons is a rhinoceros beetle in the subfamily Dynastinae. The species was described by Schaeffer in 1906. It occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. Like other dynastine beetles, it possesses enlarged cephalic or thoracic horns, though specific horn morphology for this species is not well documented.
Cotalpa conclamara
Texas goldsmith beetle
Cotalpa conclamara, known as the Texas goldsmith beetle, is a species of shining leaf chafer in the family Scarabaeidae. It was described by Young in 2002. The species is endemic to Texas and belongs to a genus of metallic beetles commonly called goldsmith beetles.
Cotalpa flavida
Shining Leaf Chafer Beetle
Cotalpa flavida is a species of scarab beetle in the subfamily Rutelinae, commonly known as the Shining Leaf Chafer Beetle. The species was described by Horn in 1878 and is native to the southwestern United States. Adults are recognized by their distinctive yellowish coloration and metallic luster.
Cotalpa subcribrata
Cotalpa subcribrata is a scarab beetle described by Wickham in 1905. It belongs to the genus Cotalpa within the family Scarabaeidae. Very few observations of this species exist in public databases, suggesting it is either rare, poorly sampled, or restricted to specific habitats. The genus Cotalpa includes species commonly known as goldsmith beetles, though this common name is more frequently applied to Cotalpa lanigera.
Cotinis boylei
South Texas Coastal Cotinis
Cotinis boylei is a flower chafer beetle in the subfamily Cetoniinae, placed in the subgenus Criniflava within the genus Cotinis. It is known from coastal Texas and appears to be a rare species with very few documented observations. The species was described by Goodrich in 1966.
Cotinis impia
Cotinis impia is a scarab beetle in the genus Cotinis, first described by Fall in 1905. The species is known from the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. Field observations indicate it has been collected on Baccharis sarothroides (desert broom), though additional host associations remain poorly documented. Like other members of the genus Cotinis, it belongs to the flower chafer group within Scarabaeidae.
Cotinis nitida
green June beetle, June bug, June beetle, Common Green June Beetle
Cotinis nitida is a native North American scarab beetle in the flower chafer subfamily Cetoniinae. Adults are large, metallic green beetles active during daylight hours, often seen flying loudly in search of ripe or fermenting fruit. The species completes a one-year life cycle, with larvae feeding underground on decaying organic matter and occasionally damaging turfgrass roots through tunneling behavior. Though sometimes mistaken for the invasive Japanese beetle, this species is significantly larger and behaviorally distinct, and is generally considered a minor agricultural pest.
scarab-beetleflower-chafersap-feederfruit-pestturfgrass-pestwhite-grubdiurnalmetallic-greennative-speciesaggregation-pheromonegut-microbiomefermentation-attractionback-crawling-larvaone-year-life-cycleorganic-matter-decomposersoutheastern-US-endemicethanol-trap-attractionmale-clypeal-hornsexual-competitionmisidentification-riskCetoniinaeGymnetiniCotinisColeopteraScarabaeidaeCremastocheilini
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.
Cremastocheilus angularis
anteater scarab beetle
Cremastocheilus angularis is a myrmecophilous scarab beetle species in the genus Cremastocheilus, commonly known as anteater scarabs. Like other members of this genus, it is believed to live within ant colonies as a predator of ant larvae and pupae, though specific details for this species remain limited. The species name 'angularis' refers to the angular body shape characteristic of the genus. It occurs in western North America, with confirmed records from California.
Cremastocheilus canaliculatus
anteater scarab beetle
Cremastocheilus canaliculatus is a myrmecophilous scarab beetle in the subfamily Cetoniinae. Adults are approximately 10 mm in length, dull black, flattened, and heavily armored with a dense, pitted exoskeleton. The species is an obligate associate of ant colonies, where adults prey on ant larvae and pupae. It occurs in eastern North America, ranging from Ontario and Quebec south through the eastern United States.
Cremastocheilus crinitus
anteater scarab beetle
Cremastocheilus crinitus is a myrmecophilous scarab beetle known for its specialized parasitic relationship with ants. Adults enter ant colonies by feigning death, allowing scavenging workers to carry them into nests. Once inside, they feed on ant larvae and pupae using modified piercing mouthparts. The species is part of a genus of approximately 35 North American species, commonly called "anteater scarabs" for their predatory behavior toward ant brood.
Cremastocheilus knochii
Cremastocheilus knochii is a species of myrmecophilous scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. As a member of the genus Cremastocheilus, commonly known as anteater scarabs, it is expected to exhibit the specialized adaptations characteristic of this group: obligate association with ant colonies, predatory feeding on ant brood, and morphological modifications for survival within hostile ant nests. The species is one of approximately 35 recognized Cremastocheilus species in North America north of Mexico.
Cremastocheilus mexicanus
Anteater scarab beetle
Cremastocheilus mexicanus is a myrmecophilous scarab beetle in the tribe Cremastocheilini. The species is part of a genus of approximately 35 North American species known as 'anteater scarabs' for their specialized predatory relationship with ants. Adults and larvae inhabit ant colonies where they feed on ant brood, exhibiting remarkable morphological and behavioral adaptations for this lifestyle. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.