ENY 3005 Family Identification

Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae

 Common name: scarab, June, and dung beetles

Identifying characteristics for the family Scarabaeidae include:

• Robust beetles varying greatly in shape; size ranging from 2 to 62 mm.
• Distinctive lamellate antennae; club generally 3 to 4 segments (max. 7) and capable of being closed tightly.
• Tarsi 5-5-5.

• This large, diverse family has about 20,000 species world wide. In North America there are about 1375 species in 120 genera and 13 subfamilies.
• The similar appearing families Lucanidae and Passalidae are distinguished by having antennae in which the lamellae can not be closed like those of the scarabs.
• Larvae of this family are the type for those termed scarabaeiform. Larvae of this type are sluggish, cylindrical, c-shaped, with a well-developed head and thoracic legs.
• The larvae of many species feed on roots, sap, and decaying wood while the adults feed on leaves and flowers. In other species, both larvae and adults feed on carrion, dung, skin, and feathers.

Canthon pulularius rolling a dung ball.

References:

• Pages 192-195 and plate 7 in D. J. Borror and R. E. White. 1970. A Field Guide to the Insects. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co.
• Pages 138-149 and plates 7-8 in R. E. White. 1983. A Field Guide to Beetles of North America. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co. 368 p.
• Page 419 in D. J. Borror, C. A. Triplehorn, and N. F. Johnson. 1989. An Introduction to the Study of Insects, 6th ed. Philadelphia: Saunders College Publishing. 875 p.
• Page 197 in R. G. Bland and H. E. Jaques. 1978. How to Know the Insects, 3rd ed. Dubuque, Iowa: Wm. C. Brown Co. 409 p.
• Page 467 in H. V. Daly, J. T. Doyen, and A. H. Purcell III. 1998. Introduction to Insect Biology and Diversity, 2nd ed. Oxford University Press. 680 p.

Links to other web sites

• Scarabaeoidea on Arizona Tree of Life.
• White grubs - Phyllophaga and other species, Univ. of Florida Featured Creatures
• Generic Guide to New World Scarab Beetles