Scarabaeidae
72276
205733160
2008-04-15T06:32:50Z
Melchoir
454640
don't trust 100-year old sources to be up to date, kids
{{Taxobox
| name = Scarabaeidae
| image = Christmas beetle jan 2007.jpg
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = ''[[Melolonthinae|Melolonthinae sp.]]''
| regnum = [[Animal]]ia
| phylum = [[Arthropod]]a
| classis = [[Insect]]a
| ordo = [[beetle|Coleoptera]]
| superfamilia = [[Scarabaeoidea]]
| familia = '''Scarabaeidae'''
| familia_authority = [[Pierre André Latreille|Latreille]], 1802
| subdivision_ranks = subfamily
| subdivision =
[[Acanthocerinae]]<br>
[[Aegialiinae]]<br>
[[Allidiostomatinae]]<br>
[[Aphodiinae]]<br>
[[Cetoniinae]]<br>
[[Dynastinae]]<br>
[[Euchirinae]]<br>
[[Melolonthinae]]<br>
[[Orphninae]]<br>
[[Pachypodinae]]<br>
[[Phaenomeridinae]]<br>
[[Phileurinae]]<br>
[[Rutelinae]]<br>
[[Scarabaeinae]]<br>
[[Trichiinae]]<br>
[[Valginae]]<br>
}}
The family '''Scarabaeidae''' as presently defined consists of over 30,000 species of [[beetle]]s worldwide. The species in this large family are often called '''scarabs''' or '''scarab beetles'''. The classification of this family is fairly unstable, with numerous competing theories, and new proposals appearing quite often. It is probable that many of the subfamilies listed here will no longer be recognized very much longer, as they will likely be reduced in status below subfamily rank, or elevated to family status (the latter is most likely, e.g., with the family "Melolonthidae" already appearing in some recent classifications). Other families have been removed recently, and are nearly universally accepted (e.g., [[Pleocomidae]], [[Glaresidae]], [[Glaphyridae]], [[Ochodaeidae]], [[Geotrupidae]], [[Bolboceratidae]])
Scarabs are stout-bodied beetles, many with bright metallic colors, measuring between 5-60 mm. They have distinctive, clubbed [[antenna (biology)|antennae]] composed of plates called [[lamellae]] that can be compressed into a ball or fanned out like leaves to sense odors. The front legs are broad and adapted for digging.
The C-shaped [[larva]]e, 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 devastating agricultural pests.
In ancient [[Egypt]], scarabs were revered as sacred. Some of the well-known beetles from the Scarabaeidae are [[Japanese beetle]]s, [[dung beetle]]s, [[June beetle]]s, [[rose chafer]]s, [[rhinoceros beetle]]s, [[Hercules beetle]]s and [[Goliath beetle]]s.
Several members of this family have shells which act as left handed circular polarisers; this was the first-discovered example of [[circular polarization in nature]].<ref name="A.A. Michelson">{{Cite journal |quotes=no |author=A. A. Michelson |title=On metallic colourings in birds and insects |journal=[[Philosophical Magazine]] |volume=21 |pages=554–567 |year=1911}}</ref>
==Gallery==
<gallery>
image:Liparetrus.jpg|''[[Liparetrus]]'' species; subfamily Melolonthinae
Image:Scarabaeid sal.jpg|''[[Onthophagus]]'' species; subfamily Scarabaeinae
Image:Punctate Flower Chafer02.jpg|Punctate Flower Chafers mating
</gallery>
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{wikispecies|Scarabaeidae}}
{{commonscat|Scarabaeidae}}
*[http://www.naturalworlds.org/scarabaeidae/index.htm Family SCARABAEIDAE]
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/beetles_japanese.htm Japanese Beetles ''Popillia japonica'' photos, description, natural history]
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/beetles_June.htm June Beetles, Family: Scarabaeidae - Diagnostic photographs]
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/beetle_chafer_trichiotinus.htm Hairy Flower Chafer Beetle ''Trichiotinus piger'' reference photographs]
*[http://www.cirrusimage.com/beetles_Euphoria_inda.htm Brown Fruit Chafer ''Euphoria inda'' reference photographs]
*[http://www-museum.unl.edu/research/entomology/scarabcentral.htm Scarab Beetle Research, Databases, and Links from '''Scarab Central''' at University of Nebraska State Museum]
* [http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/2/ An electronic checklist of the New World chafers (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Melolonthinae)] (2005)
* [http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/1/ Bibliography of literature published on scarab beetles since 1 January 2001] (worldwide coverage; through 2005)
* [http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/entomologypapers/9/ Checklist of the world Anoplognathini] (2003)
[[Category:Scarabaeidae| ]]
[[Category:Beetles]]
[[bg:Скарабееви]]
[[ca:Escarabeid]]
[[cs:Vrubounovití]]
[[de:Blatthornkäfer]]
[[et:Põrniklased]]
[[es:Scarabaeidae]]
[[fa:سرگینچرخانان]]
[[fr:Scarabaeidae]]
[[ko:풍뎅이과]]
[[io:Skarabeo]]
[[it:Scarabaeidae]]
[[he:זבליתיים]]
[[lt:Plokštėtaūsiai]]
[[nl:Bladsprietkevers]]
[[ja:コガネムシ科]]
[[no:Skarabider]]
[[pl:Żukowate]]
[[pt:Escaravelho]]
[[sv:Bladhorningar]]
[[tr:Scarabaeidae]]
[[zh:金龜子]]