Dung beetles

Definition

Beetles that feed primarily on feces, belonging mainly to the superfamily Scarabaeoidea—especially the subfamilies Scarabaeinae (often called true dung beetles) and Aphodiinae within Scarabaeidae, plus related families such as Geotrupidae. Scarabaeinae alone exceeds 5,000 species. Ecologically, they function as detritivores and ecosystem engineers, burying dung to provision brood chambers, thereby accelerating nutrient cycling, reducing parasite loads, and dispersing seeds.

Etymology

From Middle English dung (excrement) + beetle, reflecting the defining dietary habit.

Example

Onthophagus gazella, a scarabaeine dung beetle introduced to Australia, rapidly buries cattle dung to reduce bush fly (Musca vetustissima) breeding habitat.

Synonyms

• scarabaeine beetles (narrower)
• coprophagous beetles (broader)

Related Terms

• Scarabaeidae
• Scarabaeinae
• Aphodiinae
• Geotrupidae
• Coprophagy
• Detritivore
• nutrient cycling
• brood provisioning

Usage Notes

True dung beetles refers specifically to Scarabaeinae, which feed exclusively on feces; Aphodiinae and Geotrupidae include species with broader diets. The term is functional-ecological, not a formal taxon, though it maps closely to Scarabaeoidea. Distinguish from occasional coprophages in other beetle families.