such as soil, humus, or dead wood. Most species

feed primarily on living or decaying plants, though

a few (Trogidae, some Hybosoridae, some

Scarabaeidae) eat dead animal matter. A few

species are pests of agriculture or horticulture

as larvae or adults, but the vast majority of

scarabaeoids are harmless recyclers of organic

matter and play an important role in maintaining

terrestrial ecosystems.

Scarabaeoidea includes some of the biggest and

heaviest of all insects; the Goliath Beetles of Africa

(Scarabaeidae: Cetoniinae: Goliathus), the Atlas

Beetles of Asia (Scarabaeidae: Dynastinae:

Chalcosoma), and the Hercules and Elephant Beetles

of the neotropics (Dynastinae: Dynastes and

Megasoma) all inhabit tropical forest zones, and can

all exceed 4 in (10 cm) in length. Their large size,

often bright colors, and bizarre structures help

make scarabs a popular and well-studied group, but

there are also many smaller and less conspicuous

species distributed throughout the world.

left | Eulasia pareyssei (Glaphyridae) A Bumblebee

Scarab, from the eastern Mediterranean.

Glaphyrids feed and mate in flowers, and dense,

hairlike setae make them effective pollinators.