The Green Scarab Beetle (scientific name: Diphucephala colaspidoides (Gyllenhal)) is another beetle belonging to the family Scarabaeidae. This large family of more than 30,000 species has some of the most fascinating beetles in the insect world. Green Scarab Beetles are mostly found in Southern Australia where they are common in early summer and can sometimes be found in backyards of houses.
There is a club at the end of each short and elbowed antennae that helps to identify scarab beetles. Some species are brilliantly coloured in metallic hues of black, purple, blue, green, bronze or gold and have a red hue on their elytra and thorax. Most adult scarabs are oval in shape, but some are a circular shape.
Scarab Beetles are strong beetles that vary greatly in shape and size ranging from 2 to 155 millimetres. Green Scarabs usually measure around 8 millimetres in length.
Larvae of this family are the type for those termed scarabaeiform. Larvae of this type are sluggish, cylindrical, c-shaped, with a well-developed head and thoracic legs. The larvae of many species of scarabs feed on roots, sap and decaying wood while the adults feed on leaves and flowers. In other species, both larvae and adults feed on carrion, dung, skin and feathers.
