Scarabs are based on Scarabaeidaes (also called scarab beetles), although they bear little resemblance to them. They have an ellipsoid-shaped light green body with a red plating across their forehead and back, and a pair of black-eyed black-rimmed eyes on the front. They also have no limbs, except for a pair of long insect legs on their rear for moving them around.
In their debut in Sonic the Hedgehog CD, this Badnik appears as an enemy and is referred to as Scarab[note 1] in the internal game files. However, it is unnamed in any material. In this game, the player encounters them in Metallic Madness.
In gameplay, the Scarabs simply move back and forth, and have no offensive attacks. Instead, if the player tries attacking a Scarab from the rear, it will grab the playable character (without causing damage), force them into the Spin Attack and launch them in the opposite direction. Occasionally, they may also carry monitors. To defeat a Scarab, the player must attack it from above with the Spin Jump.
In the Bad Future or sometimes the Present time frame of Metallic Madness, Scarabs have not decayed, but move much slower. Also, like every Badnik in the game, they are powered by Little Planet flower seeds which will pop out of them when they are defeated.
In gameplay, the Scarabs move back and fourth while carrying objects, just like in their debut game. This time around however, they may carry around spikes instead of Item Boxes. Because no Scarabs in this game are empty-handed and the spikes they carry cannot be destroyed, it is impossible for the player to be caught between their claws. Also, upon destroying a Scarab, it will release an Animal. However, their empty-handed behavior can be reproduced if they are placed through Debug Mode.
