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 in recent years. Several 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.
Dynastinae or rhinoceros beetles are a subfamily of the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae). Other common names – some for particular groups of rhinoceros beetles – include Hercules beetles, unicorn beetles or horn beetles. Over 1500 species and 225 genera of rhinoceros beetles are known.
Tomarus is a genus of scarab beetles in the subfamily Dynastinae, the rhinoceros beetles. They are native to the Americas, where they are distributed from the central United States to Argentina, and a few species occur in the Caribbean.
Ataenius is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. There are at least 290 described species in Ataenius.
Diplotaxis is a large genus of scarab beetles in the subfamily Melolonthinae. There are at least 250 described species in the genus Diplotaxis distributed over North and Central America.
Hoplia is a genus of monkey beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. There are at least 300 described species in Hoplia. These species are found in Asia, Europe, South Africa, Madagascar, and the Americas.
Cyclocephala lurida, the southern masked chafer, is a species of beetle in the family Scarabaeidae which is native to the southeastern United States. It is a brown beetle with a black head, with an adult length of 10 to 14 mm. The adult beetles cause no harm, but the eggs are laid underground and the developing larvae feed on grass roots and can kill turf under dry conditions.
Cyclocephala nodanotherwon is a species of rhinoceros beetle in the scarab family. It has only been found in Amazonas, Brazil. Brett C. Ratcliffe described and named the species in 1992.
Macrodactylus uniformis, the western rose chafer, is a species of May beetle or junebug in the family Scarabaeidae. It is found in Central America and North America.
Cyclocephalini is a tribe of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae.
Dichelonyx is a genus of May beetles and junebugs in the family Scarabaeidae. There are at least 30 described species in Dichelonyx.
Hologymnetis is a genus of fruit and flower chafers in the family Scarabaeidae. There are about eight described species in the genus Hologymnetis.
Macrodactylus, known as rose chafers, are a genus in the family Scarabaeidae. There are at least 110 described species in Macrodactylus.
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.
Leptohoplia is a genus of shining leaf chafers in the family of beetles known as Scarabaeidae. There are at least two described species in Leptohoplia.
Gymnetina is a genus of fruit and flower chafers in the family of beetles known as Scarabaeidae. There are about six described species in Gymnetina.
Anomalacra is a genus of shining leaf chafers in the family Scarabaeidae, containing one described species, Anomalacra clypealis.
Mallophora ruficauda is a species of parasitic robber fly in the family Asilidae, endemic to South and Central America. Like other robber flies, M. ruficauda is known for its aggressive behavior and predation upon other insects, especially bees. M. ruficauda mimics a bumblebee to fool predators into thinking it has a painful sting and is not worth eating.
Callistethus is a genus of shining leaf chafers in the beetle family Scarabaeidae. There are at least 130 described species in Callistethus.
