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Scarab Beetle

What is scarab beetle?

· Emily Grant

Key facts

Family Scarabaeidae[2]
Order Coleoptera[2]
Species count more than 30,000 species[2]
North America north of Mexico about 1,700 species[4]
Ancient Egyptian symbol dung beetle (Scarabaeus sacer)[3]

A scarab beetle is a beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, with over 30,000 species worldwide, and is also the name for the ancient Egyptian dung beetle symbol.

Context

A scarab beetle is a beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, which includes more than 30,000 species worldwide [2]. In North America north of Mexico, about 1,700 species are found [4]. Scarab beetles have lamellate or fan-shaped antennae [3]. They are ecologically important and often associated with flowering plants [2]. Many species are destructive turf and garden pests, as their larvae, called white grubs, damage the roots of turf grasses and other plants [2]. The term "scarab" also refers to the ancient Egyptian symbol, specifically the dung beetle *Scarabaeus sacer*, which was sacred to the ancient Egyptians and used as a talisman, ornament, and symbol of resurrection [3]. Some sources use "scarab beetle" broadly for many beetles in Scarabaeidae, not just the sacred dung beetle [1].

Documented claims

  • Scarab beetles are an ecologically important group of animals associated with flowering plants. [2]
  • Many scarab beetle species are destructive turf and garden pests, with larvae (white grubs) damaging roots of turf grasses and other plants. [2]
  • In ancient Egypt, the scarab beetle was used as a talisman, ornament, and symbol of resurrection. [3]

Questions and answers

Why did Egyptians love scarab beetles?

The ancient Egyptians held scarab beetles sacred, using them as talismans, ornaments, and symbols of resurrection [3].

Are there scarab beetles in Canada?

The sources do not specify Canada, but they note about 1,700 species occur in North America north of Mexico [4].

Do Egyptian scarabs still exist?

Yes, the dung beetle *Scarabaeus sacer*, which was the ancient Egyptian scarab, still exists today [3].

What is the spiritual meaning of the scarab beetle?

In ancient Egypt, the scarab beetle symbolized resurrection and was used as a talisman and ornament [3].

Sources

  1. Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeids) — mdc.mo.gov (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  2. SCARAB | definition in the Cambridge English Dictionary — dictionary.cambridge.org (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  3. Scarab - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms — vocabulary.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
  4. Scarab beetles and their meaning in the ancient Egyptian ... — naturalhistorycuriosities.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)

Sources last checked August 3, 2026. · More in Nature