Universal primer (L1490, H2198) and specific primer (Pat, Jerry) were used for cloning the mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase I (COⅠ) gene fragments of four common scarabs. The homologous sequences were compared and partial nucleotide sequences of COⅠ (689 bp, 775 bp) obtained．The genetic distances of these sequences were analysed and the sequences used to produce three kinds of phylogenetic trees. The results show that the stability and differentials of interspecific distance of the sequences amplified with specific primers are clearly higher than those of sequences amplified with a universal primer. The phylogenetic trees constructed from sequences amplified with the specific primer are more consistent with the current morphological taxonomy of these scarab species. We conclude that sequences amplified with specific primer are more accurate for scarab classification.