The family is among the largest of the beetles, with some 15,000 species known in 450 genera.
Shape is generally cylindrical or elongate to ovoid, most species are under 20 mm.
The iridescence common to these beetles is not due to pigments in the exoskeleton,
but instead physical iridescence in which microscopic texture in their cuticle selectively
reflects specific frequencies of light in particular directions. This is the same effect that
makes a compact disc reflect multiple colors.
The larvae bore through roots, logs, stems, and leaves of various types of plants, ranging from
trees to grasses.
