The beetle family Scarabaeidae is made up of about 28 subfamilies containing more than 100 tribes. There are more than 2,500 genera and 35,000 described species in Scarabaeidae. [1]
The following subfamilies and tribes are in accordance with those in Catalog of Life (2023) and Dietz, Ahrens, et al. (2023). The tribe Hopliini is placed as a subfamily in Catalogue of Life, but is listed as a tribe of subfamily Melolonthinae here. The subfamilies Sericinae and Sericoidinae were suggested in Dietz, Ahrens, et al. (2023) and are included in the Catalogue of Life. [1] [2] The subfamily Lichniinae is sometimes considered a tribe, Lichniini. [3]
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.
Geotrupidae is a family of beetles in the order Coleoptera. They are commonly called earth-boring dung beetles or dor beetles. Most excavate burrows in which to lay their eggs. They are typically detritivores, provisioning their nests with leaf litter, but are occasionally coprophagous, similar to dung beetles. The eggs are laid in or upon the provision mass and buried, and the developing larvae feed upon the provisions. The burrows of some species can exceed 2 metres in depth.
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 1,500 species and 225 genera of rhinoceros beetles are known.
Zopheridae is a family of beetles belonging to Tenebrionoidea. It has grown considerably in recent years as the members of two other families have been included within its circumscription; these former families are the Monommatidae and the Colydiidae, which are now both included in the Zopheridae as subfamilies or even as tribe of subfamily Zopherinae. Some authors accept up to six subfamilies here, while others merge all except the Colydiinae into the Zopherinae.
Aphodiinae is a subfamily of the scarab beetle family, Scarabaeidae. Members of this subfamily are known commonly as the small dung beetles and many, but not all, are dung beetles. These beetles are found worldwide.
The Trichiini are a tribe of the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae), though historically they were often classified as a subfamily, Trichiinae. In Europe, the conspicuous bee beetles (Trichius) are probably the best-known genus of the tribe.
Flower chafers are a group of scarab beetles comprising the subfamily Cetoniinae. Many species are diurnal and visit flowers for pollen and nectar, or to browse on the petals. Some species also feed on fruit. The group is also called fruit and flower chafers, flower beetles and flower scarabs. There are around 4,000 species, many of them still undescribed.
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.
Garreta is a genus of dung beetles in the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae). There are more than 20 described species; most are African and some are from Asia. They are generally found in fairly moist habitats.
Gymnopleurus is a genus of Scarabaeidae or dung beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea.
The Aleocharinae are one of the largest subfamilies of rove beetles, containing over 12,000 species. Previously subject to large-scale debate whether the subfamily deserved the familial status, it is now considered one of the largest subfamilies of rove beetles.
Aegialiinae is a small subfamily of the family Scarabaeidae. Historically the group has been treated as a tribe within a broad definition of the subfamily Aphodiinae.
Coprini is a tribe of scarab beetles, in the dung beetle subfamily (Scarabaeinae). Scholtz et al. describe them as tunnellers that are shiny black, of moderate to large size and with a strongly convex shape. They also, however state that the grouping based on these characteristics has little phylogenetic validity, and the placement of several genera in this and related tribes is likely to change.
Cremastocheilini is a tribe of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. There are about 50 genera in the tribe Cremastocheilini.
Pentodontini is a tribe of rhinoceros beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. There are over 100 genera in the tribe Pentodontini.
Cetoniini is a tribe of fruit and flower chafers in the family of beetles known as Scarabaeidae. There are over 80 genera in Cetoniini, found worldwide.
Oryctini is a tribe of beetles in the Dynastinae.