Abstract The remarkable species richness of Ceratocanthinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Hybosoridae) found at Ulu Gombak (Selangor, West Malaysia), a secondary rainforest research station, is discussed. Eighteen species have been collected, mainly in nests of termites (Isoptera) and bess beetles (Coleoptera: Passalidae). Among them at least seven are new species, three of them here described: Madrasostes hashimi sp. n., Madrasostes mirificum sp. n., and Pterorthochaetes tsurui sp. n. Four other species (Madrasostes agostii Paulian, Madrasostes clypeale Paulian, Madrasostes depressum Paulian, and Madrasostes simplex Paulian) are recorded for the first time for West Malaysia and three for new states within West Malaysia (Pterorthochaetes insularis Gestro, Madrasostes malayanum Paulian and Madrasostes sculpturatum Paulian). A checklist of the 34 Ceratocanthinae recorded so far from West Malaysia and Singapore is provided with taxonomic, distributional and morphological remarks on some species.