Ochodaeidae

Ochodaeidae, also known as the sand-loving scarab beetles, is a small family of scarabaeiform beetles occurring in many parts of the world.

These beetles are small, ranging from 3–10 millimetres (0.12–0.39 in). Their bodies are elongate and convex, with black and brown colors including yellowish- and reddish-brown shades.

As of 2012, we are still much in the dark about the biology and habits of Ochodaeidae beetles. Most types have been collected in sandy areas at night, while some of their species are active during the day.

Taxonomy

Ochodaeidae beetles belong to the infraorder Scarabaeiformia, which contains only one superfamily, the Scarabaeoidea. The most striking feature of the Scarabaeoidea are the ends of their antennae, that are divided into several lamellae, thus resembling a fan. Another distinguishing feature are their legs, that possess teeth and are adapted for digging.

The Ochodaeidae are divided into two subfamilies containing five tribes and 15 genera: