Family Scarabaeidae
updated 7/6/98


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      The family Scarabaeidae is the largest family in the Scarabaeoidea. It is one of the five largest families of beetles in the world, containing about 30,000 species. About 1500 species occur in North America. To date, 115 scarabs have been found in Wisconsin. This family contains some of the better-known scarabs like the June beetles, dung beetles, and chafers. Scarab larvae are often called grubs, or white grubs, and have a characteristic C-shaped body plan (as do the larvae from the other scarabaeoid families). This family has historically been divided into two groups based on food preferences: Pleurosticti, in which adults are phytophagous and the larvae feed on plant roots or rotting wood and decaying organic matter, and Laparosticti, in which adults and larvae are coprophaguos or saprophagous. 

Subfamily Aphodiinae
	Tribe Aegialiini
	Tribe Aphodiini
	Tribe Psammodiini
	Tribe Eupariini

Subfamily Scarabaeinae
	Tribe Scarabaeini
	Tribe Coprini
	Tribe Onthophagini

Subfamily Melolonthinae
	Tribe Sericini
	Tribe Melolonthini
	Tribe Macrodactylini
	Tribe Hoplini

Subfamily Rutelinae
	Tribe Rutelini
	Tribe Anomalini

Subfamily Dynastinae
	Tribe Pentodontini
	Tribe Oryctini

Subfamily Cetoniinae
	Tribe Cetoniini
	Tribe Cremastocheilini

Subfamily Trichiinae
	Tribe Osmodermini
	Tribe Trichiini

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For more information or comments, please send email to:

young@entomology.wisc.edu or nlkriska@entomology.wisc.edu

This webpage was created by Michael Young.