Aphodiinae
Guides
Cryptoscatomaseter utopensis
Cryptoscatomaseter utopensis is a small scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described from Utah in 2006. The genus Cryptoscatomaseter was established to accommodate species previously misplaced in related genera. This species is known only from the type locality in Utah and represents one of the few documented members of this genus in North America. It belongs to a group of dung beetles often associated with rodent burrows and subterranean environments.
Dellacasiellus fucosus
Dellacasiellus fucosus is a species of scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, first described by Schmidt in 1917. It belongs to a genus of aphodiine dung beetles found in arid and semi-arid regions of western North America. The species has been recorded from scattered localities across the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Dellacasiellus griffini
Dellacasiellus griffini is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described by Gordon and Skelley in 2007 and is currently known only from Texas in the southern United States. The species belongs to a small genus of aphodiine dung beetles. Very few observations exist in public databases.
Dellacasiellus laevigatus
Dellacasiellus laevigatus is a small scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, first described by Haldeman in 1848. The genus Dellacasiellus was established to accommodate species formerly placed in related genera such as Aphodius. This species occurs in the southeastern United States. As a member of the Aphodiinae, it is presumed to be associated with dung or decaying organic matter, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Dellacasiellus pseudofucosus
Dellacasiellus pseudofucosus is a small scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described by Gordon and Skelley in 2007. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico, with records from California and Baja California. As a member of the Aphodiinae, it likely functions as a detritivore associated with mammal dung. The specific epithet 'pseudofucosus' indicates morphological similarity to D. fucosus.
Dellacasiellus ruficlarus
Dellacasiellus ruficlarus is a species of dung beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, originally described by Fall in 1932. It belongs to a small genus of aphodiine scarabs distributed across western North America. The species has been documented in arid and semi-arid regions from Canada to Mexico.
Dialytes
Dialytes is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Harold in 1869. The genus contains five described species distributed in North America. As members of the subfamily Aphodiinae, these beetles are associated with dung and decomposing organic matter. The genus is relatively small and understudied compared to other aphodiine genera.
Dialytes truncatus
Dialytes truncatus is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is native to North America, with confirmed records from the United States and Canada. As a member of the Aphodiinae subfamily, it is associated with dung habitats. The species was first described by Melsheimer in 1845.
Dialytes ulkei
Dialytes ulkei is a small aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Horn in 1875. The species is distributed across eastern and central North America, with records from Canada (Ontario, Quebec) and the United States (Colorado, Iowa, Maryland, South Carolina, Wisconsin). As a member of the Aphodiinae, it is associated with dung and decaying organic matter.
Dialytodius
Dialytodius is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The genus was established by Gordon and Skelley in 2007. It belongs to the tribe Aphodiini and is currently recognized as valid. Species in this genus are part of the diverse aphodiine dung beetle fauna of the Nearctic region.
Diapterna
Diapterna is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Horn in 1887. The genus contains six described species distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Species in this genus are small to medium-sized scarab beetles associated with dung and decaying organic matter. Like other aphodiines, they are classified as 'dwellers' that feed and reproduce within dung rather than constructing tunnels.
Diapterna hamata
Diapterna hamata is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is distributed across North America, with records from both the United States and Canada. As a member of the Aphodiinae subfamily, it belongs to a group commonly known as small dung beetles or earth-boring dung beetles.
Eupleurus
Eupleurus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The genus was established by Mulsant in 1842 and includes species formerly classified under Aphodius. The best-documented species, Eupleurus subterraneus, occurs across Europe, Asia, and North America.
Eupleurus subterraneus
Eupleurus subterraneus is a scarab beetle species originally described by Linnaeus in 1758. Formerly classified in the genus Aphodius, it was reassigned to Eupleurus based on taxonomic revision. The species has been recorded across Europe, Asia, and North America, with two recognized subspecies: the nominate E. s. subterraneus and E. s. krasnojarskicus described from Russia in 1986. As a member of the dung beetle subfamily Aphodiinae, it likely participates in nutrient cycling through association with decomposing organic matter.
Flaviellus subtruncatus
Flaviellus subtruncatus is a species of scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae. It is a dung beetle native to western North America. The species was described by John Lawrence LeConte in 1878. It is one of few species in the small genus Flaviellus, which is distinguished from related aphodiine genera by subtle morphological characters.
Geomyphilus insolitus
Geomyphilus insolitus is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The species was described by Brown in 1928. It belongs to a genus associated with pocket gopher (Geomys spp.) burrows, suggesting a commensal or symbiotic relationship with these fossorial rodents. The species is known from multiple states in the central United States.
Geopsammodius
tiny sand-loving scarabs
Geopsammodius is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles comprising approximately nine described species, all described or revised by Skelley in 2006. The genus was established by Gordon & Pittino in 1992. Species are found in sandy habitats in North America, with several bearing common names referencing their small size and sand-dwelling habits.
Geopsammodius fuscus
Geopsammodius fuscus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Skelley in 2006. It belongs to the subfamily Aphodiinae and tribe Psammodiini, a group commonly known as psammophilic or sand-dwelling dung beetles. The species is known from limited records in Florida, USA.
Geopsammodius hydropicus
Atlantic dune tiny sand-loving scarab
Geopsammodius hydropicus is a small dung beetle species in the subfamily Aphodiinae, commonly known as the Atlantic dune tiny sand-loving scarab. The species is associated with sandy coastal habitats in the southeastern United States. It belongs to a genus whose members are specialized for life in sandy substrates.
Geopsammodius morrisi
Geopsammodius morrisi is a small scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described by Paul Skelley in 2006. It belongs to a genus of psammophilic (sand-dwelling) beetles within the tribe Psammodiini. The species is known from a limited number of records in Florida, USA. Like other members of its genus, it is likely associated with sandy habitats, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Geopsammodius relictillus
relictual tiny sand-loving scarab
Geopsammodius relictillus is a small aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described from Florida in 1991. The species epithet "relictillus" refers to its relictual status, suggesting it may represent a remnant population of a formerly more widespread group. It belongs to the tribe Psammodiini, whose members are commonly known as sand-loving scarabs due to their association with sandy habitats.
Geopsammodius unsidensis
Geopsammodius unsidensis is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It was described by Skelley in 2006. The species is known from North America, with records from Texas. As a member of the tribe Psammodiini, it is associated with sandy habitats.
Haroldiataenius convexus
Haroldiataenius convexus is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It was described by Robinson in 1940. The species is known from Texas, USA, within the Nearctic region. As a member of the subfamily Aphodiinae, it is associated with dung decomposition, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited.
Haroldiataenius semipilosus
Haroldiataenius semipilosus is a small dung beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described by Van Dyke in 1928. As an aphodiine, it belongs to a group often associated with dung decomposition, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited. It occurs in arid and semi-arid regions of the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico.
Haroldiellus sallei
Haroldiellus sallei is a small dung-feeding scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The species is distributed across the Western Hemisphere from the southwestern United States through Central America to Colombia, with records also from Caribbean islands in the Greater Antilles. As a surface dung-feeder, it plays a role in nutrient cycling in various ecosystems. The species was first described by Harold in 1863 and represents one of the more broadly distributed members of its genus.
Hornosus larreae
A dung beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, recorded from arid regions of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. The species is associated with creosote bush (Larrea tridentata) habitats, as indicated by its specific epithet. Little is known of its biology beyond collection records.
Lechorodius
Lechorodius is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was established by Gordon and Skelley in 2007 and is currently recognized as valid. The genus belongs to the tribe Aphodiini and is part of the diverse group of dung beetles and related taxa within the scarab superfamily Scarabaeoidea.
Lechorodius lutulentus
A small scarab beetle in the dung beetle subfamily Aphodiinae, distributed across the eastern and central United States. The species name "lutulentus" (Latin for muddy or turbid) may reference coloration or habitat associations. It belongs to a genus of aphodiine dung beetles that are generally associated with decaying organic matter.
Lechorodius terminalis
Lechorodius terminalis is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. Described by Thomas Say in 1823, this species is distributed across the Nearctic region of North America. As a member of the Aphodiini tribe, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly associated with dung decomposition. The genus Lechorodius is classified within the Aphodiinae, a diverse subfamily of scarab beetles that play important ecological roles in nutrient cycling.
Leiopsammodius
Leiopsammodius is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Rakovič in 1981. The genus contains more than 40 described species. Members of this genus belong to the tribe Psammodiini, which are often associated with sandy substrates. As with other aphodiine dung beetles, species in this genus are likely involved in the decomposition of organic matter.
Liothorax
Liothorax is a genus of scarab beetles in the subfamily Aphodiinae, historically treated as a subgenus of Aphodius. Species are characterized by elongate, parallel-sided to hemicylindrical bodies and distinctive head morphology lacking tubercles on the frontoclypeal suture. The genus comprises at least 16 Palaearctic species divided into niger and plagiatus species groups, plus additional species in the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. Recent revisions have used chromosomal analysis and molecular phylogenetics to clarify species boundaries.
Martineziana
Martineziana is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, containing six described species. These beetles are classified within the tribe Eupariini, a group of small to medium-sized scarabs often associated with decomposing organic matter. The genus was established by Chalumeau & Özdikmen in 2006. Species are distributed across the Neotropical region, with records from Argentina and other South American localities.
Melinopterus femoralis
Melinopterus femoralis is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It is broadly distributed across North America, with records from numerous U.S. states and Canadian provinces, and has also been reported from Siberia in the Palaearctic region. As a member of the Aphodiinae, it is associated with dung decomposition and nutrient cycling in terrestrial ecosystems.
Mendidius aculeatus
Mendidius aculeatus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described by Robinson in 1940. The species is known from scattered records in the southwestern United States (California, Nevada, Utah) and northern Mexico (Chihuahua). Like other members of the genus Mendidius, it is presumed to be associated with dung and decaying organic matter, though specific biological details remain poorly documented.
Merogyrus
Merogyrus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae, described by Gordon and Skelley in 2007. It belongs to the tribe Aphodiini, a group commonly known as small dung beetles. The genus is currently known from the Nearctic region. As a recently described and poorly documented genus, few species-level details have been published.
Merogyrus rotundiceps
Merogyrus rotundiceps is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. Described by Fall in 1907, this species is known from the Nearctic region with confirmed records from North Carolina, USA. Like other members of the genus Merogyrus, it is classified within the tribe Aphodiini, a group primarily associated with dung-feeding habits. The species epithet 'rotundiceps' refers to its rounded head structure.
Neopsammodius interruptus
Neopsammodius interruptus is an aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. The species was first described by Thomas Say in 1835. It is known from multiple states across the United States.
Neopsammodius werneri
Neopsammodius werneri is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It was described by Cartwright in 1955. The species occurs in both Central America and North America, with records from the southern United States (Texas) and several Mexican states including Chiapas, Oaxaca, and Veracruz, as well as Honduras. As a member of the tribe Psammodiini, it is associated with sandy habitats.
Neotrichonotulus inurbanus
Neotrichonotulus inurbanus is a species of scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described by Gordon and Howden in 1973. It belongs to a genus of dung beetles found in arid and semi-arid regions of western North America and Mexico. The species is poorly documented in scientific literature and has no recorded observations on iNaturalist.
Nialaphodius
Nialaphodius is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The genus was established by Kolbe in 1908 and has been recorded from multiple biogeographic regions including the Afrotropical, Nearctic, Neotropical, and Madagascan realms. As a member of the dung beetle tribe Aphodiini, species in this genus are likely associated with decomposing organic matter. The genus is poorly documented in public repositories, with minimal observational records available.
Odontolytes
Odontolytes is a genus of small dung beetles within the subfamily Aphodiinae, family Scarabaeidae. Established by Koshantschikov in 1916, the genus comprises approximately 19 described species. Members are classified in the tribe Eupariini, a group often associated with decaying organic matter and detritus rather than fresh dung. The genus has a Neotropical distribution.
Odontolytes denominatus
Odontolytes denominatus is a small aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is distributed across the Neotropical and southern Nearctic regions, with records from the Caribbean, Central America, and northern South America, as well as Florida in the United States. As a member of the tribe Eupariini, it is associated with decomposing organic matter.
Odontopsammodius
Odontopsammodius is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Gordon and Pittino in 1992. The genus comprises approximately 12 described species. These beetles belong to the tribe Psammodiini, a group associated with sandy habitats. The genus is distributed in the Neotropical region.
Odontopsammodius cruentus
Odontopsammodius cruentus is a small aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is distributed across parts of North America and South America, with records from the southeastern United States and Argentina. As a member of the tribe Psammodiini, it is associated with sandy substrates. The species was described by Harold in 1867.
Orodaliscoides giulianii
A small dung beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described from specimens collected in the Chihuahuan Desert region. The species is known from few records in the borderlands of Texas and Chihuahua. Like other members of Orodaliscoides, it is presumed to be associated with rodent burrows and their detritus.
Oscarinus abusus
Oscarinus abusus is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It has been documented in the south-central United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely contributes to dung decomposition in cattle farming environments.
Oscarinus bottimeri
Oscarinus bottimeri is a dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae, described by Cartwright in 1957. The genus Oscarinus contains species associated with cattle dung in agricultural environments. Like related species in the genus, O. bottimeri likely contributes to nutrient cycling and soil aeration through dung burial activities.
Oscarinus brimleyi
Oscarinus brimleyi is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It has been documented in the southeastern United States, specifically in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Texas. As a member of the genus Oscarinus, it is likely associated with mammal dung, though specific ecological details for this species remain limited in published literature. The species was described by Cartwright in 1939.
Oscarinus matiganae
A dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Paulsen in 2006. It belongs to the genus Oscarinus, which comprises beetles associated with vertebrate dung. The species has been recorded from Nebraska and Texas in the United States.
Oscarinus welderi
Oscarinus welderi is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, first described in 2007 from Texas. It belongs to a genus known for dung-feeding ecology, though specific details for this species remain limited. The species is documented from very few observations.