The family Scarabaeidae, as currently defined, consists of over 35,000 species of beetles worldwide; they are often called scarabs or scarab beetles. The classification of this family has undergone significant change. Several groups formerly treated as subfamilies have been elevated to family rank, and some reduced to lower ranks. The subfamilies listed in this article are in accordance with those in Catalog of Life (2023).
Scarabaeoidea is a superfamily of beetles, the only subgroup of the infraorder Scarabaeiformia. Around 35,000 species are placed in this superfamily and some 200 new species are described each year. Its constituent families are also undergoing revision presently, and the family list below is only preliminary. This superfamily includes some of the largest beetles extant today, including rhinoceros beetles, (Dynastinae), the Hercules beetle and Goliath beetles.
Hybosoridae, sometimes known as the scavenger scarab beetles, is a family of scarabaeiform beetles. The 690 species in 97 genera occur widely in the tropics, but little is known of their biology.
Melolonthinae is a subfamily of the scarab beetles. It is a very diverse group; distributed over most of the world, it contains over 11,000 species in over 750 genera. Some authors include the scarab subfamilies Euchirinae and Pachypodinae as tribes in the Melolonthinae.
Aclopinae is a subfamily of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea.
Dynamopodinae is a very small subfamily of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles, with only seven species in a two genera.
Anomiopsoides is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. There are at least four described species in the genus Anomiopsoides and are found in Argentina.
Ateuchus is a genus of some 100 species of New World scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) in the subfamily Scarabaeinae. They are found mainly in the Neotropics.
Onthophagus is a genus of dung beetles in the Onthophagini tribe of the wider scarab beetle family, Scarabaeidae. It is the most species-rich and widespread genus in the subfamily Scarabaeinae, with a global distribution.
Termitotroginae is a monotypic subfamily of the family Scarabaeidae, the scarab beetles. The only genus in the subfamily is Termititrox. A second genus, Aphodiocopris, Arrow, 1920, has been synonymised with Termitotrox. All known members of this subfamily are tiny, blind and flightless, and are termitophiles, dwelling within the fungal gardens of colonies of species of termite in Africa or tropical Asia.
Orphninae is a subfamily of beetles in the scarab beetle family, Scarabaeidae. There are two tribes in the family, the New World Aegidiini and the Old World Orphnini. They are mostly tropical beetles.
Cartwrightia is a genus of scarab found in Latin America. It was named and circumscribed in 1958 by Federico Islas Salas. As of 2017, three species are recognized: C. intertribalis, C. cartwrighti, and C. islasi. They can be found in the nests of leafcutter ants or in dung.
Macrodactylini is a tribe of May beetles and junebugs in the family Scarabaeidae. There are at least 46 genera and over a thousand species described in the tribe Macrodactylini.
Ateuchini is a tribe of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. There are at least 30 genera and 370 described species in Ateuchini.
Pseudocanthon is a genus of in the beetle family Scarabaeidae. There are about nine described species in Pseudocanthon.
Euetheola is a genus of rhinoceros beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. There are about seven described species in Euetheola.
Ancognatha is a genus of rhinoceros beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. There are more than 20 described species in Ancognatha.
Dyscinetus is a genus of rice beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. There are more than 20 described species in Dyscinetus.
Malagoniella is a genus of in the beetle family Scarabaeidae. There are about 10 described species in Malagoniella.
Lichniinae is a subfamily of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. The subfamily consists of two genera and about six described species. Lichniinae is sometimes considered a tribe of the subfamily Melolonthinae, Lichniini.
