Some species of tropical ground squirrels have developed adaptations to dig for grubs and other larvae. Endemic to Indonesia, the only two species that make the genus Hyosciurus have long snouts and strong claws, which they use for digging grubs and other insect larvae in rotting wood. The montane long-nosed ground squirrel (Hyosciurus heinrichi) and the lowland long-nosed squirrel (Hyosciurus ileile) also feed on acorns and other plants materials, but larvae make the main part of their diet.
Spermophilus is a large and diverse genus of ground squirrels found in temperate climates of North America, Asia and Europe. Although Spermophilus squirrels feed primarily on plant materials, such as grasses and seeds, some species can also eat small lizards and other vertebrates, as well as insects and their larvae, including grubs. The spotted ground squirrel (Spermophilus spilosoma) is one of the smallest in North America, measuring less than 10 inches.
Endemic to Sunda and neighboring islands of Southeast Asia, the shrew-faced ground squirrel (R. laticaudatus) is the only species of the genus Rhinosciurus. This species feeds mainly on earthworms, ants, termites and other insects, as well as grubs and other larvae. It has a long tongue, short front teeth and an elongated snout, adapted to forage on the ground. Callosciurus and Lariscus species are also found in Southeast Asia. Although they also feed on grubs, larvae are not the main part of their diet.
Dremomys and Menetes are ground squirrels that occur in tropical areas of Asia. Like some other species that eat larvae, the plain long-nosed ground squirrel (genus Dremomys) also developed an elongated snout. However, these squirrels do not feed exclusively on grubs, but also have earthworms, fruit and insects in their diets. The Indochinese ground squirrel (M. berdmorei), the only species of the genus Menetes, also eats grubs.