Scarabaeinae
Encyclopedia
The scarab beetle
subfamily Scarabaeinae consists of species
collectively called true dung beetle
s. Most of the beetles of this subfamily feed exclusively on dung
. Well-known members include the genera Scarabaeus
and Sisyphus
, and Phanaeus vindex
.
Scarabaeinae tribe
s, with some selected genera and species, are:
Coprini, Oniticellini, Onitini, Onthophagini and Phanaeini are sometimes separated as subfamily Coprinae.
Scarabaeidae
The family Scarabaeidae as currently defined consists of over 30,000 species of beetles 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...
subfamily Scarabaeinae consists of species
Species
In biology, a species is one of the basic units of biological classification and a taxonomic rank. A species is often defined as a group of organisms capable of interbreeding and producing fertile offspring. While in many cases this definition is adequate, more precise or differing measures are...
collectively called true dung beetle
Dung beetle
Dung beetles are beetles that feed partly or exclusively on feces. All of these species belong to the superfamily Scarabaeoidea; most of them to the subfamilies Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae of the family Scarabaeidae. This beetle can also be referred to as the scarab beetle. As most species of...
s. Most of the beetles of this subfamily feed exclusively on dung
Manure
Manure is organic matter used as organic fertilizer in agriculture. Manures contribute to the fertility of the soil by adding organic matter and nutrients, such as nitrogen, that are trapped by bacteria in the soil...
. Well-known members include the genera Scarabaeus
Scarabaeus
The genus Scarabaeus consists of a number of Old World dung beetle species, including the "sacred scarab beetle", Scarabaeus sacer. These beetles feed exclusively on dung, which they accomplish by rolling a piece of dung some distance from where it was deposited, and burying it in order to feed on...
and Sisyphus
Sisyphus (beetle)
Sisyphus is a genus of dung beetles. One common species is Sisyphus schaefferi ....
, and Phanaeus vindex
Phanaeus vindex
Phanaeus vindex, the rainbow scarab or rainbow scarab beetle is a North American dung beetle, with a range from the eastern US to the Rocky Mountains. The head is a metallic yellow color, and males have a black horn which curves backward toward the thorax. Both sexes have yellow antennae which can...
.
Scarabaeinae tribe
Tribe (biology)
In biology, a tribe is a taxonomic rank between family and genus. It is sometimes subdivided into subtribes.Some examples include the tribes: Canini, Acalypheae, Hominini, Bombini, and Antidesmeae.-See also:* Biological classification* Rank...
s, with some selected genera and species, are:
- Canthonini
- Circellium Latreille, 1825
- DicranocaraDicranocaraDicranocara is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. Dicranocara is endemic to the Richtersveld National Park. Three species are known, D. deschodti Frolov and Scholtz, D. tatasensis Deschodt and Scholtz and D. inexpectata Deschodt and Scholtz. Only D...
Frolov and Scholtz, 2003 - VersicorpusVersicorpusVersicorpus is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. Versicorpus is endemic to Namibia and is only found at the Mount Erongo. This is a monotypic genus with only one species, Versicorpus erongoensis....
Deschodt Davis and Scholtz, 2011 - DeltochilumDeltochilumDeltochilum is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea....
- Deltochilum valgumDeltochilum valgumDeltochilum valgum is a nocturnal species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, which has evolved a predatory lifestyle. While most other members of its family feed on faeces, D. valgum is highly specialised for eating millipedes; such a transition from scavenger to carnivore is rare.D. valgum...
- Deltochilum valgum
- Coprini
- Copris Geoffroy, 1762
- HeliocoprisHeliocoprisHeliocopris is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. They are found in Africa, and southern and southeast Asia.The genus Heliocopris includes the following species:*Heliocopris alatus...
- Dichotomiini
- DichotomiusDichotomiusDichotomius is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea....
- Dichotomius
- Eucraniini
- Eurysterini
- Gymnopleurini (sometimes included in Scarabaeini)
- GymnopleurusGymnopleurusGymnopleurus is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea....
Illiger, 1803
- Gymnopleurus
- Oniticellini
- EuoniticellusEuoniticellusEuoniticellus is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea....
Janssens, 1953 - OniticellusOniticellusOniticellus is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea....
Serville, 1825
- Euoniticellus
- Onitini
- BubasBubasBubas is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea. These beetles have been found in Spain, France and Italy.-Further reading:...
Mulsant, 1842 - Cheironitis Lansberge, 1875
- OnitisOnitisOnitis is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea....
Fabricius, 1798
- Bubas
- OnthophaginiOnthophaginiOnthophagini are a tribe of scarab beetles. Commonly placed in the true dung beetle subfamily , it belongs to a group of subfamilies separated as subfamily Coprinae in some treatments....
- Phanaeini MacLeay, 1819
- Oxysternon
- Phanaeus
- Phanaeus changdiaziPhanaeus changdiaziPhanaeus changdiazi is a species of beetle found in Panama and Costa Rica. It is named after Franklin Chang-Díaz, a Costa Rican-American physicist and former NASA astronaut....
- Phanaeus vindexPhanaeus vindexPhanaeus vindex, the rainbow scarab or rainbow scarab beetle is a North American dung beetle, with a range from the eastern US to the Rocky Mountains. The head is a metallic yellow color, and males have a black horn which curves backward toward the thorax. Both sexes have yellow antennae which can...
- Phanaeus changdiazi
- Scarabaeini
- ScarabaeusScarabaeusThe genus Scarabaeus consists of a number of Old World dung beetle species, including the "sacred scarab beetle", Scarabaeus sacer. These beetles feed exclusively on dung, which they accomplish by rolling a piece of dung some distance from where it was deposited, and burying it in order to feed on...
- Scarabaeus
- Sisyphini (sometimes included in Scarabaeini)
- NeosisyphusNeosisyphusNeosisyphus is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea....
- SisyphusSisyphus (beetle)Sisyphus is a genus of dung beetles. One common species is Sisyphus schaefferi ....
- Neosisyphus
Coprini, Oniticellini, Onitini, Onthophagini and Phanaeini are sometimes separated as subfamily Coprinae.