1 September 2022

There are more than 30,000 beetles in the Scarab family (Scarabaeidae), most of them active only at night.

The Glorious Scarab Beetle (Chrysina gloriosa) pictured at top was hiding underground when gardening unearthed it in its native US range of Arizona, New Mexico, Texas.

Hidden gems include Beyer’s scarab which I saw in southeastern Arizona in 2015, described in this vintage article: Like a Jewel.

In the eastern US we have beautiful scarab beetles in our own backyards.

But we don’t think they’re beautiful because they eat our roses.

Japanese beetles (Popillia japonica) are scarabs.

(photos from Wikimedia Commons, bugguide.net and Kate St. John, click on the captions to see the originals)