Scarabaeoidea
Guides
Alloblackburneus
Alloblackburneus is a genus of scarab beetles (family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae) described by Bordat in 2009. It belongs to the tribe Aphodiini, a group commonly known as small dung beetles. The genus is endemic to the Afrotropical region. Species in this genus are part of the diverse Aphodiinae fauna associated with decomposition and nutrient cycling in African ecosystems.
Apterocyclus
Kauai flightless stag beetles
Apterocyclus is a genus of flightless stag beetles endemic to the Hawaiian island of Kauai. The genus comprises five described species, ranging from 14 to 23 mm in length. These beetles represent the only native scarabaeoid beetles in the Hawaiian Islands. Three species (A. honoluluensis, A. kawaii, and A. waterhousei) have been confirmed living since the late 1960s, while others may be extinct. Historical collection data shows a dramatic decline, with over 130 specimens documented between 1871 and 1922 but very few found in recent decades.
Bolbelasmus
Bolbelasmus is a genus of earth-borer beetles in the family Bolboceratidae, comprising at least 29 described species and 2 subspecies. It represents the most widely distributed genus among bolboceratine beetles, occurring across the Holarctic and Oriental regions. Species are predominantly soil-dwelling, with limited natural history documentation available for most taxa. The genus includes the endangered European species B. unicornis, which is listed under EU Habitat Directive Annexes II and IV.
Bolboceratinae
earth-boring scarab beetles
Bolboceratinae is a subfamily of earth-boring scarab beetles within Geotrupidae, containing approximately 8 genera and at least 40 described species. The group exhibits a disjunct global distribution with centers of diversity in Australia, South America, southern Africa, and parts of Eurasia. Some authorities recognize Bolboceratinae as the family Bolboceratidae. Members are characterized by fossorial adaptations and diverse reproductive strategies including egg gigantism in some lineages.
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).
Bolbocerosoma pusillum
Bolbocerosoma pusillum is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Bolboceratidae, described by Dawson and McColloch in 1924. The species is distributed across North America and comprises two recognized subspecies: the nominate form B. p. pusillum and B. p. townesi described by Howden in 1955. Like other members of the genus, this species is associated with burrowing behavior in soil and is attracted to light sources at night.
Bolbocerosoma ritcheri
Bolbocerosoma ritcheri is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, first described by Howden in 1955. The species belongs to a genus characterized by their burrowing behavior and association with soil substrates. It occurs in parts of North America including Texas and northeastern Mexico.
Bolbocerosoma tumefactum
Bolbocerosoma tumefactum is an earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, native to eastern North America. The species is characterized by its distinctive tumescent (swollen) appearance, reflected in its specific epithet. Like other geotrupids, adults are typically associated with mammal dung and soil-burrowing activities. The species occurs across a broad range of eastern and mid-Atlantic states in the United States.
Bradycinetulus fossatus
fossate bolboceratine, fossate earth-boring dung beetle
Bradycinetulus fossatus is a large, robust bolboceratine geotrupid beetle found in sand dune and sandy grassland habitats of the south-central United States. The species is characterized by its chunky body form and fossorial (burrowing) adaptations typical of the subfamily. It is attracted to lights at night and has been documented in Oklahoma, New Mexico, and Texas. The species is part of a small genus of North American bolboceratines that are poorly studied relative to their ecological role in sandy ecosystems.
Bradycinetulus rex
earth-boring scarab beetle
Bradycinetulus rex is an earth-boring scarab beetle described by Cartwright in 1953. It belongs to the family Geotrupidae, a group commonly known as earth-boring dung beetles for their habit of digging burrows in soil. The species is known from the Nearctic region, with records from Texas. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits the fossorial (burrowing) habits characteristic of the family.
Carcinops opuntiae
clown beetle
Carcinops opuntiae is a species of histerid beetle in the family Histeridae, commonly known as clown beetles. It occurs in North America, with records from the southwestern United States (Arizona, California, Texas) and Mexico. The species epithet 'opuntiae' suggests an association with Opuntia cacti, though specific ecological relationships remain poorly documented. Like other histerids, adults are likely predatory, feeding on the eggs and larvae of other insects.
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.
Cryptoscatomaseter
Cryptoscatomaseter is a genus of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described by Gordon and Skelley in 2007 and is known from the Neotropical region. Members of this genus are small to medium-sized scarab beetles associated with dung decomposition. The genus is part of the diverse Aphodiini tribe, which contains many species that feed on animal feces.
Cryptoscatomaseter paulseni
Cryptoscatomaseter paulseni is a species of scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, first described from specimens collected in Kansas and Nebraska. It belongs to a genus of small dung beetles whose members are poorly documented in the scientific literature. The species is known only from a limited number of records in the central Great Plains region of the United States.
Digitonthophagus
Digitonthophagus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, tribe Onthophagini. The genus was established by Balthasar in 1959 and was historically treated as a subgenus of Onthophagus by some authorities. A comprehensive taxonomic review was published in 2017, resulting in the description of numerous new species. The genus currently comprises 16 recognized species distributed across the Afrotropical, Oriental, and Palaearctic regions. Members are dung beetles that exhibit the typical scarabaeine behavior of dung burial for larval provisioning.
Diphyllostoma
false stag beetles
Diphyllostoma is a genus of three rare beetle species endemic to California, commonly known as false stag beetles. Adults are diurnal and active during the day. Females are flightless, while males have functional wings. Larval stages have never been observed, and the life history remains largely unknown. The genus represents the sole member of the family Diphyllostomatidae.
Diphyllostoma nigricolle
A small scarab beetle in the family Diphyllostomatidae, a rare and poorly known group endemic to western North America. The species was described by Fall in 1912 and is distinguished by its dark (black) neck or collar region, as indicated by its specific epithet. Members of this family are among the most enigmatic beetles, with very few specimens collected and limited biological data available.
Diplotaxis rufa
Rufous Scarab Beetle
Diplotaxis rufa is a scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae. The species was described by Linell in 1896. Records indicate presence in the southeastern United States, specifically Florida and Georgia. As a member of the genus Diplotaxis, it belongs to a group commonly known as May beetles or June beetles, though specific biological details for this species remain poorly documented.
ScarabaeidaeMelolonthinaeColeopteraNearcticUSAFloridaGeorgia1896-descriptionLinellDiplotaxiniscarab-beetleMay-beetleJune-beetleLinell-1896Diplotaxis-rufa-Linell-1896scarabbeetleinsectarthropodanimalscarabaeoidpolyphagastaphyliniformiascarabaeoideadiplotaxisrufarufoussoutheastern-United-Statessoutheast-USNorth-AmericaNearctic-regionEucanthus
earth-boring scarab beetles
Eucanthus is a genus of earth-boring scarab beetles comprising approximately eight described species. These beetles belong to the family Bolboceratidae (formerly placed in Geotrupidae), a group characterized by fossorial (burrowing) habits. The genus was taxonomically revised by Henry F. Howden in 1955 as part of a comprehensive treatment of North American Geotrupinae. Species are distributed across North America, with representatives occurring from the United States through Mexico and into South America.
Eucanthus impressus
Eucanthus impressus is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, subfamily Bolboceratinae. It was described by Henry Howden in 1964 and is distributed across much of North America, with records from the United States and northern Mexico. The species belongs to a group of beetles commonly known as earth-boring scarabs due to their fossorial habits.
Euplastius
A genus of click beetles (Elateridae) described by Schwarz in 1903. The taxonomic status is currently marked as doubtful, indicating uncertainty about its validity as a distinct genus. Limited information is available about its constituent species and biology.
Geotrupes stercorarius
dor beetle, dumbledore, Common Dor Beetle
Geotrupes stercorarius is an earth-boring dung beetle in the family Geotrupidae, commonly known as the dor beetle or dumbledore. It is widespread throughout Europe and has been introduced to parts of North America. Adults are coprophagous, feeding primarily on the dung of herbivorous animals with a documented preference for horse dung. The species exhibits distinctive parental care behavior, with both sexes cooperating to construct deep burrows beneath dung and provision brood chambers for larval development.
Geotrupidae
Earth-boring beetles, Earth-boring dung beetles, Dor beetles
Geotrupidae is a family of beetles in the order Coleoptera, commonly called earth-boring dung beetles or dor beetles. Adults excavate burrows in soil to lay eggs, typically provisioning nests with leaf litter (often moldy) rather than dung, though some species are coprophagous. The family contains over 600 species in about 30 genera across two subfamilies: Geotrupinae and Taurocerastinae. Formerly classified as a subfamily of Scarabaeidae, Geotrupidae was elevated to family status based on phylogenetic evidence. Some species communicate via stridulation, and burrows can exceed 2 meters in depth.
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.
Listrochelus opacicollis
Listrochelus opacicollis is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Melolonthinae, described by Horn in 1878. It belongs to the tribe Rhizotrogini, a group commonly known as June beetles or May beetles. The species is known from the southwestern United States.
Mycotrupes cartwrighti
Cartwright's Mycotrupes
Mycotrupes cartwrighti is an earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, described by Olson and Hubbell in 1954. The species is endemic to the southeastern United States, with confirmed records from Florida and Georgia. Like other members of its genus, it is a fossorial beetle adapted to burrowing in sandy soils. The common name honors American entomologist John B. Cartwright.
Mycotrupes retusus
Sandhills Earth-boring Scarab Beetle
Mycotrupes retusus is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. It is endemic to the sandhills region of the southeastern United States, specifically North Carolina and South Carolina. The species is poorly known, with only eight documented observations on iNaturalist and minimal published biological information. As a member of the Geotrupidae, it likely exhibits fossorial behavior typical of the family.
Neochodaeus
Neochodaeus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Ochodaeidae, established by Nikolajev in 1995. The genus comprises at least four described species distributed in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Members are associated with sandy habitats, earning them the common designation of 'sand-loving scarab beetles'. The genus belongs to the superfamily Scarabaeoidea and is classified within the tribe Ochodaeini.
Odonteus
Odonteus is a genus of earth-boring dung beetles in the family Bolboceratidae, comprising approximately 60 described species distributed across multiple continents. The genus was established by Samouelle in 1819, predating the synonym Bolboceras by one month; this priority was formally recognized by ICZN Opinion 2138 in 2006. Species in this genus exhibit considerable morphological diversity, particularly in horn development and body sculpturing. The type species is Odonteus armiger (Scopoli, 1772).
Odonteus filicornis
earth-boring scarab beetle
Odonteus filicornis is an earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823. It is native to North America and has been documented across the central United States and southern Canada.
Peltotrupes profundus
Florida Deep-digger Scarab, Florida deepdigger scarab
Peltotrupes profundus is an earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, endemic to Florida. The species was described by Henry Howden in 1952 and belongs to a genus of deep-burrowing beetles adapted to sandy substrates. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate P. p. profundus and P. p. dubius. Like other geotrupids, adults construct deep burrows for larval development.
Pleocoma
rain beetles
Pleocoma is the sole extant genus of Pleocomidae, a family endemic to the Pacific states of North America. These beetles are notable for their extreme subterranean lifestyle, with adults emerging only during fall and winter rains to mate. The genus name derives from Greek words for 'abundant hair,' referring to the dense ventral hair covering. Adults are non-feeding, while larvae are root-feeders with exceptionally long development periods of up to 13 years.
Scarabaeoidearain-beetlessubterraneannon-feeding-adultslong-lived-larvaepheromone-mediated-matingendemicNearcticrelictual-distributionCretaceous-originpest-of-Christmas-treeslamellate-antennaeflightless-femalesrain-triggered-emergenceCalifornia-faunaOregon-faunaWashington-faunaroot-feeding-larvaeextreme-seasonalitylight-attracted-malesPleocoma badia hirsuta
Pleocoma badia hirsuta is a subspecies of rain beetle in the family Pleocomidae, described by Davis in 1934. Like other Pleocomidae, adults are active during autumn rains and exhibit strong sexual dimorphism with flightless females. The subspecific epithet 'hirsuta' suggests increased hairiness relative to the nominate subspecies. It is one of several subspecies within the P. badia species complex found in western North America.
Pleocoma bicolor
rain beetle
Pleocoma bicolor is a species of rain beetle in the family Pleocomidae, described by Linsley in 1935. Rain beetles in this genus are known for emerging in response to rainfall events. The species is endemic to California.
Pleocoma crinita
rain beetle
Pleocoma crinita is a species of rain beetle described by Linsley in 1938. It is one of approximately 30 species in the genus Pleocoma, a group of large, fossorial scarab beetles endemic to western North America. The species is known from Washington State and shares the family-wide trait of adult emergence triggered by rainfall.
Pleocoma fimbriata
Fimbriate Rain Beetle
Pleocoma fimbriata is a species of rain beetle in the family Pleocomidae, known from California. Rain beetles are characterized by their flightless females and autumn-emerging adults that are often associated with rainfall events. The species was described by LeConte in 1856.
Pleocoma hirticollis
rain beetle
Pleocoma hirticollis is a species of rain beetle in the family Pleocomidae, a group of scarab beetles endemic to western North America. The species is active during autumn and winter rains, emerging only when soil is saturated. Three subspecies are recognized: P. h. hirticollis, P. h. reflexa, and P. h. vandykei. Like other Pleocomidae, adults are sexually dimorphic and do not feed.
Pleocoma hovorei
Pleocoma hovorei is a rain beetle species described in 2007. It belongs to the family Pleocomidae, a small group of scarab beetles known for their emergence during autumn rains. The species occurs in California, USA.
Pleocoma linsleyi
rain beetle
Pleocoma linsleyi is a species of rain beetle described by Hovore in 1971. The species was named in honor of American entomologist Earle Gorton Linsley. It belongs to the family Pleocomidae, a group of scarab beetles known for their autumn emergence patterns and association with rainfall.
Pleocoma marquai
rain beetle
Pleocoma marquai is a species of rain beetle described by Hovore in 1972. It belongs to the family Pleocomidae, a small group of scarab beetles known for their emergence during autumn rains. The species is known from California and is one of approximately 30 species in the genus Pleocoma.
Pleocoma simi
Pleocoma simi is a rain beetle in the family Pleocomidae, described by Davis in 1934. The species is known from Oregon in the western United States. As with other Pleocoma species, adults are active during autumn rains and males fly to locate flightless females. Larval stages remain underground, feeding on roots.
Pseudataenius socialis
Pseudataenius socialis is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is known from scattered records across the central and southeastern United States. The species was described by Horn in 1871 and is placed in the tribe Eupariini within the subfamily Aphodiinae.
dung-beetleScarabaeidaeAphodiinaeNorth-AmericaColeopteraEupariiniPseudataeniusUnited-StatesKansasLouisianaNebraskaOklahomaSouth-CarolinaTexasHorn-1871Nearcticendogeicsaprophagoussoil-dwellingscarab-beetlebeetleinsectarthropodanimaleukaryotehexapodpolyphagous-beetlestaphyliniformiascarabaeoideaaphodiineaphodiine-dung-beetlescarabscarabaeidscarabaeoidscarabaeoideanstaphyliniformpolyphaganTrox
hide beetles
Trox is a genus of hide beetles in the family Trogidae, subfamily Troginae. The genus currently contains approximately 70 species divided among three subgenera: Trox (Trox), Trox (Niditrox), and Trox (Granulitrox). These beetles are specialized scavengers that colonize animal remains in advanced stages of decomposition, feeding on dried skin, hair, feathers, and connective tissue. They are among the last insects to visit carcasses, appearing after most other carrion fauna have departed. The genus has undergone significant taxonomic revision, with former subgenera Phoberus and Glyptotrox elevated to full genera and numerous species synonymized.