Scarabs
family of infraorder “Beetles“
1 family, 1 subfamily, 4 species
Scarabs are stout beetles with metallic colors and can range in size from 1.5 to 160 millimeters. They have clubbed antennae composed of plates called lamellae that can sense odors. Many scarabs are fossorial, with legs adapted for digging. The larvae, called grubs, are pale yellow or white and live underground or under debris. Scarabs have an important ecological role as scavengers that recycle dung, carrion, or decaying plant material. In Ancient Egypt, the sacred scarab beetle was revered and amulets were traded throughout the Mediterranean world. Some well-known scarab beetle species include Japanese beetles, dung beetles, June beetles, rose chafers, rhinoceros beetles, Hercules beetles, and Goliath beetles.
Hierarchy
species of family “Scarabs“
1 species
subfamily of family “Scarabs“
1 subfamily, 4 species
Description#
Scarabs are stout-bodied beetles, many with bright metallic colours, measuring between 1.5 and 160 millimetres (0.059 and 6.3 in). They have distinctive, clubbed antennae composed of plates called lamellae that can be compressed into a ball or fanned out like leaves to sense odours. Many species are fossorial, with legs adapted for digging. In some groups males (and sometimes females) have prominent horns on the head and/or pronotum to fight over mates or resources. The largest fossil scarabaeid was Oryctoantiquus borealis with a length of 50 millimetres (2.0 in). The C-shaped larvae, called grubs, are pale yellow or white. Most adult beetles are nocturnal, although the flower chafers (Cetoniinae) and many leaf chafers (Rutelinae) are active during the day. The grubs mostly live underground or under debris, so are not exposed to sunlight. Many scarabs are scavengers that recycle dung, carrion, or decaying plant material. Others, such as the Japanese beetle, are plant-eaters. Some of the well-known beetles from the Scarabaeidae are Japanese beetles, dung beetles, June beetles, rose chafers (Australian, European, and North American), rhinoceros beetles, Hercules beetles and Goliath beetles. Several members of this family have structurally coloured shells which act as left-handed circular polarisers; this was the first-discovered example of circular polarization in nature.
Ancient Egypt#
In Ancient Egypt, the dung beetle now known as Scarabaeus sacer (formerly Ateuchus sacer) was revered as sacred. Egyptian amulets representing the sacred scarab beetles were traded throughout the Mediterranean world.
See also#
Dung beetle – Scarabaeidae dung beetles play an important role in temperate and tropical environments List of Scarabaeidae subfamilies and tribes Scarab artifact
Further reading#
== External links ==
Scarabs are stout beetles with metallic colors and can range in size from 1.5 to 160 millimeters. They have clubbed antennae composed of plates called lamellae that can sense odors. Many scarabs are fossorial, with legs adapted for digging. The larvae, called grubs, are pale yellow or white and live underground or under debris. Scarabs have an important ecological role as scavengers that recycle dung, carrion, or decaying plant material. In Ancient Egypt, the sacred scarab beetle was revered and amulets were traded throughout the Mediterranean world. Some well-known scarab beetle species include Japanese beetles, dung beetles, June beetles, rose chafers, rhinoceros beetles, Hercules beetles, and Goliath beetles.
Ancestry Graph
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