The superfamily Scarabaeoidea is one of the largest and most diverse superfamilies of Coleoptera, including over 35,000 described species and 2,500 genera worldwide. Based on studies of insect diversity, it is estimated that the Scarabaeoidea may include up to 50,000 species. Some of the most beautiful and largest insects on Earth belong to this superfamily of beetles. Of all the beetles, scarabaeoids are among the best known because of their beauty, fascinating life histories, and economic importance. In the Nearctic region, the taxonomy of most scarabaeoids is now fairly well known although there remain a few areas of uncertainty.
Scarab beetles are adapted to most habitats, and they can be fungivores, herbivores, necrophages, coprophages, saprophages, and sometimes carnivores. They are widely distributed around the globe, even living in the Arctic in animal burrows. Some scarabs exhibit parental care and sociality. Some species live in close association with ants (myrmecophiles) or...
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Cave, R.D., Ratcliffe, B.C. (2008). Scarab Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea). In: Capinera, J.L. (eds) Encyclopedia of Entomology. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4020-6359-6_4045
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