Animal Profiles
Insects

Dung Beetle

Scarabaeidae

Living

Living individuals or members of this group exist today. This does not mean they are safe from extinction.

Dung beetles have several ways of using dung. This account follows the bull-headed dung beetle (Onthophagus taurus), a tunnelling species introduced to North America from Europe.

Onthophagus taurus, the representative described in this account.

Onthophagus taurus, the representative described in this account.

(c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY) · CC BY

At a glance

Location
Bull-headed dung beetles occur in pastures where animal dung is available.
Habitat
Grassland
Diet
Detritivore
Food
Tunnels beneath a dung pat hold brood balls in which eggs are placed.

Classification

Common name
Dung Beetle
Browse group
Insects
Scientific name or taxon
Scarabaeidae
Taxon rank
family
Order
Coleoptera
Family
Scarabaeidae
Source classification
Insecta

Taxonomy checked against GBIF. For breeds and hybrids, this describes the listed parent taxon.

Three things to know

  • It is a tunnelling dung beetle.
  • Large males bear horns.
  • Brood balls are placed underground.

Habitat and range

Bull-headed dung beetles occur in pastures where animal dung is available. The cited Cornell account describes established populations in eastern North America and their European origin.

Appearance and adaptations

Adults are small, shiny black beetles. Large males carry curved horns, while females and smaller males have less conspicuous head armature.

Diet and behaviour

Tunnels beneath a dung pat hold brood balls in which eggs are placed. Using dung as a food resource helps return organic material to the soil rather than leaving it all at the surface.

Sources

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