Not only is the Goliath beetle one of the largest of all scarab beetles, it is one of the the largest insects in the world! There are a few insects that may be longer, but the Goliath is probably larger and heavier. The Goliath beetle belongs to the scarab family. There are more than 30,000 species of scarab beetles, and scientists believe there are many more types of scarab beetles that haven't been discovered yet. These giants of the insect world like to eat dead plant material. Scarab beetles like the goliath beetle help to recycle "used material" and keep the earth a clean place to live. Goliath beetles are an important part of nature's clean-up crew.