Scarites Subterraneus

Interesting!!! Scarites Subterraneus

share characteristics with tropical stag beetles, but are not closely related.

Habitat and Food Habits Scarites Subterraneus are usually found under loose rocks and boards or logs. They are predators and

have been known to overpower and eat

mealworms, which are much larger than they are.

Taxonomy Kingdom: Animalia Phylum: Arthropoda

Class: Insecta Order: Coleoptera

Suborder: Adephaga Family: Carabidae

Subfamily: Scaritinae Genus: Scarites

Species: Subterraneus

Interesting!!! They play dead when touched!!

Life Cycle and Reproduction They spend winter in the larva

or adult stage. Adults will emerge to mate and eggs are laid in soil, which hatch and

develop through several stages before pupating. Development is usually complete in one year.

Phylogeny These beetles are native to the Palearctic, which consists of the

Near East, North America and North Africa. They have jointed legs which is a characteristic of Phylum Arthropoda. Also, they have a sheath or covered wings which is indicative

of Order Coleoptera.

Interesting!!! They have a long flat

head and an articulated “waist”.

References: “Ground Beetle”. Texas A&M Agrilife Extension. Online. http://insects.tamu.edu/fieldguide/bimg130.html Scarites. (2010) Wikipedia online. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scarites Phylum Arthropoda. Online. http://www.entomology.umn.edu/cues/4015/handouts/Orders.htm

Jena Pratt Biology 1407