Facts on Scarab Beetles

Scarab beetles are a large and diverse group of insects with around 30,000 different species. The ancient Egyptians held scarabs in high regard, and images of large beetles have been found prolifically in hieroglyphs. Famously, a small scarab amulet known as a heart scarab was found on the chest of Pharaoh Tutankhamen.

  1. Description

    • Scarab beetles tend to be oval-shaped, broad, dull-colored insects. Shells tend to be brown or black in color, but some species are more colorful and display stunning coloration. The beetles vary from a fraction of an inch to almost 7 inches in length, with the largest being the Hercules beetle. The male Hercules beetle is distinctive, because of its rhino-like horns which are used for fighting other males. With so many known species of scarab beetle, the physical appearances can be greatly varied.

    Habitat and Range

    • The oceans and the planet's arctic regions are the only places in the world where scarab beetles are not present. Almost any land-based habitat is suitable for some species of scarab beetle, with the various species having adaptations specific to their conditions. Many species have strong front legs and dig holes or burrows, so are found in areas with loose soil.

    Diet

    • Some scarab beetles are solely vegetarian and eat only plant material. The Japanese beetle is one such species -- which has become a major pest -- due to its voracious appetite for plant material. Fruits and fungi are also consumed by some species, as are animal remains and even the slime secreted by snails. One of the more well-known scarab beetle diets belongs to a group known as dung beetles. These beetles feed on the fecal matter produced by large herbivores; such as sheep, deer and elephants.

    Religious Significance

    • The scarab beetle, specifically the dung beetle, was revered by the ancient Egyptians as being a physical representation of the Sun God Ra. Ra was believed to regenerate himself, and some Egyptians believed the same of dung beetles, due to their hatching methods. Some dung beetles lay their eggs inside balls of dung; which they then bury. The eggs hatch and mature inside the dung -- eventually coming up out of the ground. To ancient Egyptians witnessing this, it may have appeared that the beetles came from nothing, like Ra himself.