Dung-beetle
Guides
Cryptoscatomaseter criddlei
Cryptoscatomaseter criddlei is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Brown in 1928. It belongs to the genus Cryptoscatomaseter, a group of small aphodiine scarabs. The species is known from a limited number of records in the northern Great Plains and adjacent regions of North America.
Cryptoscatomaseter haldemani
Cryptoscatomaseter haldemani is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It belongs to a genus of small dung beetles found in North America. The species was described by Horn in 1887 and is distributed across the central and southern United States.
Cryptoscatomaseter iowensis
Iowa Small Dung Beetle
Cryptoscatomaseter iowensis is a small dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It is known from the central plains of North America, with records from the northern United States and southern Canada. The species was described by Wickham in 1913 from Iowa. Like other members of Aphodiinae, it is presumed to be associated with dung, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Cryptoscatomaseter paulseni
Cryptoscatomaseter paulseni is a species of scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, first described from specimens collected in Kansas and Nebraska. It belongs to a genus of small dung beetles whose members are poorly documented in the scientific literature. The species is known only from a limited number of records in the central Great Plains region of the United States.
Cryptoscatomaseter rossi
Cryptoscatomaseter rossi is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described by Cartwright in 1944. The genus Cryptoscatomaseter belongs to the dung beetle tribe Aphodiini. Distribution records indicate presence in Texas, USA.
Cryptoscatomaseter umbricollis
A small scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, known from the southwestern United States. The species name 'umbricollis' refers to the shaded or dark collar region. It belongs to a genus of aphodiine dung beetles with limited documented natural history.
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 concavus
Dellacasiellus concavus is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described by Say in 1823. This species belongs to a group of beetles commonly known as aphodiine dung beetles, though specific ecological details for this particular species remain limited in available sources.
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.
Deltochilum gibbosum
humpback dung beetle
Deltochilum gibbosum, commonly known as the humpback dung beetle, is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It belongs to the subgenus Hybomidium and is found in the southeastern United States. The species is associated with dung, particularly from wild hogs. A former variety, D. gibbosum var. sublaeve, has been reclassified as a separate species D. sublaeve.
Deltochilum scabriusculum
Deltochilum scabriusculum is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, distributed from the southern United States through Mexico and Central America. The subspecies D. s. montanum was synonymized with the nominate form in a 2012 taxonomic revision. Like other members of its genus, it belongs to a group historically associated with dung-feeding behavior, though specific ecological studies for this species are lacking.
Dialytellus
Dialytellus is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Brown in 1929. The genus comprises at least three described species distributed in the Nearctic region. As members of the Aphodiinae subfamily, these beetles are associated with dung decomposition. The genus is relatively small and understudied, with limited ecological data available.
Dialytes striatulus
Dialytes striatulus is a small aphodiine dung beetle described by Thomas Say in 1825. As a member of the Aphodiinae subfamily, it is associated with dung habitats and contributes to nutrient cycling. The species is documented across eastern and central North America, with records spanning from southeastern Canada to the eastern and central United States.
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 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.
Digitonthophagus
Digitonthophagus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, tribe Onthophagini. The genus was established by Balthasar in 1959 and was historically treated as a subgenus of Onthophagus by some authorities. A comprehensive taxonomic review was published in 2017, resulting in the description of numerous new species. The genus currently comprises 16 recognized species distributed across the Afrotropical, Oriental, and Palaearctic regions. Members are dung beetles that exhibit the typical scarabaeine behavior of dung burial for larval provisioning.
Digitonthophagus gazella
Gazelle scarab, Brown dung beetle
Digitonthophagus gazella is a dung beetle native to Afro-Asian regions that has been widely introduced across the Americas, Australia, and Pacific islands for biological control of cattle dung. The species exhibits rapid colonization ability due to high reproductive rates, opportunistic resource utilization, and strong dispersal capacity. It has become established in numerous tropical and subtropical regions, with documented naturalized populations in North, Central, and South America. The species shows complex nesting behavior involving tunnel construction by both sexes and has been extensively studied for its ecological impacts on native dung beetle assemblages.
Eucanthus impressus
Eucanthus impressus is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, subfamily Bolboceratinae. It was described by Henry Howden in 1964 and is distributed across much of North America, with records from the United States and northern Mexico. The species belongs to a group of beetles commonly known as earth-boring scarabs due to their fossorial habits.
Eucanthus lazarus
Lazarus's Earth-boring Scarab Beetle
Eucanthus lazarus is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Bolboceratidae (sometimes historically placed in Geotrupidae). It occurs in North America, where it has been observed in association with animal dung. The species was originally described by Fabricius in 1775. A western subpopulation was once recognized as Eucanthus lazarus subtropicus, though this name is now generally treated as a synonym.
Euoniticellus intermedius
Northern Sandy Dung Beetle
Euoniticellus intermedius is an African dung beetle intentionally introduced to multiple continents for dung burial and livestock pest control. Males possess a distinctive horn absent in females, making it a model organism for sexual selection studies. The species exhibits remarkable tolerance to diverse environments and stressors, though it is sensitive to global change factors including warming and pollution. Larvae feed exclusively on cow dung fiber while adults consume juices from fresh dung.
Euparia
Euparia is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles comprising approximately six described species. The genus includes Euparia castanea, which has been documented as a myrmecophile in fire ant colonies. Species occur in the Neotropical and Afrotropical regions.
Euparia castanea
Euparia castanea is an aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. The species is distributed across Central America and North America, with records from Mexico through Central America to Florida and Texas in the United States. As a member of the tribe Eupariini, it belongs to a group of scarab beetles often associated with ant colonies.
Euparixia moseri
Euparixia moseri is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It was described by Woodruff and Cartwright in 1967. The species is known from North America, with records from Louisiana. As a member of the Aphodiinae, it is associated with dung decomposition.
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
Flaviellus is a genus of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described by Gordon and Skelley in 2007. It belongs to the tribe Aphodiini and subtribe Aphodiina. As a relatively recently described genus, it is part of the diverse group of dung beetles and their relatives within the scarab superfamily Scarabaeoidea. The genus is recognized as valid and accepted in current taxonomic databases.
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 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 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 subpedalis
underfoot tiny sand-loving scarab
Geopsammodius subpedalis is a small aphodiine dung beetle described by Skelley in 2006. It belongs to the tribe Psammodiini, a group commonly known as sand-loving scarabs due to their affinity for sandy substrates. The species is known from the southeastern United States.
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.
Geotrupes balyi
Baly's earth-boring beetle
Geotrupes balyi is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. It occurs in North America, with records from Canada and the eastern and central United States. As with other members of its genus, it is associated with mammal dung and forested habitats. The species was described by Jekel in 1865.
Geotrupes blackburnii blackburnii
Blackburn's earth-boring beetle
Geotrupes blackburnii blackburnii is a subspecies of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. It is a medium-sized beetle with entirely black coloration and a nearly impunctate pronotum, distinguishing it from the closely related G. splendidus. Adults are most commonly encountered in fall, particularly on mild days, and are frequently found on or near animal dung in high-quality woodland habitats. The species has a broad distribution across eastern North America.
Geotrupes semiopacus
Semi-opaque Earth-boring Scarab Beetle
Geotrupes semiopacus is an earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. It is broadly distributed across eastern and central North America, ranging from Canada through the United States. The species is active primarily in fall and early winter, with adults observed from October until hard winter conditions set in. Like other members of the genus Geotrupes, it is associated with mammal dung and forest floor habitats.
Geotrupes splendidus
Splendid Earth-boring Beetle
A large, metallic earth-boring beetle in the family Geotrupidae, native to eastern North America. Adults are most commonly encountered in late fall and early winter, walking clumsily on trails through high-quality woodlands in search of mammal dung for feeding and oviposition. The species exhibits notable color polymorphism, with eastern populations typically bright green and western populations (including Missouri) ranging from yellow-green with golden or reddish hints to dark purple. Unlike true dung beetles, adults frequently feed on fungus and leaf litter, though dung remains important for larval development.
Geotrupes stercorarius
dor beetle, dumbledore, Common Dor Beetle
Geotrupes stercorarius is an earth-boring dung beetle in the family Geotrupidae, commonly known as the dor beetle or dumbledore. It is widespread throughout Europe and has been introduced to parts of North America. Adults are coprophagous, feeding primarily on the dung of herbivorous animals with a documented preference for horse dung. The species exhibits distinctive parental care behavior, with both sexes cooperating to construct deep burrows beneath dung and provision brood chambers for larval development.
Geotrupes ulkei
Ulke's earth boring beetle, Ulke's Earth-boring Scarab
Geotrupes ulkei is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. The species is currently classified under the genus Geotrupes, though some taxonomic sources list it as a synonym of Cnemotrupes ulkei. It is one of several North American species in this genus of burrowing beetles that utilize mammal dung and other organic materials for larval development.
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.
Labarrus pseudolividus
Labarrus pseudolividus is a dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) native to the Nearctic and Neotropical regions, with introduced populations in Australia, New Zealand, and parts of Africa. The species has been used as a model organism in methodology studies testing flotation and sieve-separation techniques for collecting dung beetles from dung pats. It is classified as a 'dweller' type dung beetle that inhabits dung rather than tunneling beneath it.
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.