Copris minutus
(Drury, 1773)
Small Black Dung Beetle
Copris minutus is a small dung beetle in the Scarabaeidae. It is distributed across eastern and central North America, from Quebec south to Florida and west to Texas and Kansas. The is commonly known as the small black dung beetle. As a member of the Copris, it is presumed to be associated with mammal , though specific ecological details for this species are limited in published literature.
Pronunciation
How to pronounce Copris minutus: //ˈkoʊ.prɪs maɪˈnjuːtəs//
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Identification
Specific diagnostic features distinguishing C. minutus from other North American Copris are not well documented in available sources. The species is described as small and black, consistent with its . Identification to species level within Copris typically requires examination of genitalia and other subtle morphological characters.
Images
Distribution
Nearctic region: Canada (Quebec); United States (Alabama, Arkansas, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, West Virginia).
More Details
Taxonomic authority note
NCBI lists authority as (Drury, 1770), while GBIF and other sources use (Drury, 1773). The 1773 date appears more widely accepted in current databases.
Data gaps
Despite being a relatively common and widespread with over 300 iNaturalist observations, detailed published studies on the , , and of C. minutus specifically appear limited. Most ecological information available pertains to the Copris broadly rather than this species in particular.