Dung-beetle
Guides
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 malkini
Leiopsammodius malkini is a species of aphodiine dung beetle described by Cartwright in 1946. It is one of approximately 50 species in the genus Leiopsammodius, a group of small scarab beetles commonly known as psammodiines or sand-loving dung beetles. The species is documented from the Nearctic region, with confirmed records from Florida, USA. Like other members of the tribe Psammodiini, it is associated with sandy habitats.
Liatongus
Liatongus is a genus of dung beetles in the subfamily Scarabaeinae, family Scarabaeidae. The genus contains 38–46 species, with 17 species occurring in Africa. Members are small to medium-sized beetles, ranging from 7.4 to 10.9 mm in length. The genus is distributed across three major biogeographic regions: Afrotropical, Oriental to eastern Palearctic, and western Nearctic.
Malagoniella astyanax
Malagoniella astyanax is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, formerly placed in the tribe Canthonini. It is distributed across South America, with documented occurrences in Colombia and other countries. The species comprises five recognized subspecies showing geographic variation across its range.
Melanocanthon nigricornis
A small dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, native to central North America. The species name "nigricornis" refers to its black antennae. It inhabits grassland and prairie ecosystems where it contributes to nutrient cycling through dung burial. The species has been documented across a broad swath of the central United States and extends into northern Mexico.
Melanocanthon punctaticollis
Melanocanthon punctaticollis is a small dung beetle species described by Schaeffer in 1915. It belongs to the tribe Deltochilini within the scarab subfamily Scarabaeinae. The species is known from Florida, USA, and like other members of its genus, is likely associated with dung decomposition. It is among the least documented species in its genus, with limited published biological data.
Melanocanthon vulturnus
Melanocanthon vulturnus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Edmonds in 2023. It belongs to the genus Melanocanthon within the tribe Deltochilini. As a recently described species, published knowledge about its biology and ecology remains limited. It is part of the diverse scarab beetle fauna associated with dung decomposition.
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 quinqueplicatus
Neopsammodius quinqueplicatus is a species of aphodiine dung beetle described by Horn in 1871. It belongs to the family Scarabaeidae and is part of the Psammodiini tribe, which comprises beetles often associated with sandy habitats. The species occurs in both Nearctic and Neotropical regions.
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.
Odonteus
Odonteus is a genus of earth-boring dung beetles in the family Bolboceratidae, comprising approximately 60 described species distributed across multiple continents. The genus was established by Samouelle in 1819, predating the synonym Bolboceras by one month; this priority was formally recognized by ICZN Opinion 2138 in 2006. Species in this genus exhibit considerable morphological diversity, particularly in horn development and body sculpturing. The type species is Odonteus armiger (Scopoli, 1772).
Odonteus falli
Odonteus falli is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, first described by Wallis in 1928. It is native to North America and has been recorded across the northern United States and central Canada. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with soil-burrowing habits typical of the group commonly known as earth-boring dung beetles. The species is relatively poorly documented in the scientific literature compared to some congeners.
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 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.
Oniticellini
Oniticellini is a tribe of scarab beetles within the subfamily Scarabaeinae, commonly known as true dung beetles. The tribe comprises one of the largest and most ecologically significant groups of dung beetles globally, accounting for approximately half of the world's dung beetle fauna. Species in this tribe exhibit diverse nesting behaviors, with most acting as tunnelers that bury dung below droppings, while some genera such as Oniticellus and Tragiscus function as dwellers that create brood cavities within or beneath dung. Oniticellini and the related tribe Onthophagini share a single common ancestor and have achieved worldwide distribution except for Antarctica.
Onitini
Onitini is a tribe of dung beetles within Scarabaeidae, erected by Frederic William Hope. The tribe comprises approximately 18 genera including the type genus Onitis and the diverse genus Cheironitis. Members are primarily distributed across arid regions of the Palaearctic and Afrotropical regions, with some species extending into the Oriental region. These beetles are associated with dung decomposition in dryland ecosystems.
Onitis
Onitis is a genus of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, tribe Onitini. The genus contains more than 140 species, primarily distributed across the Afrotropical, Palaearctic, and Oriental regions. All species are tunnelers that construct underground burrows beneath dung, bringing dung into these tunnels for egg-laying and larval development. The genus represents a significant component of dung beetle diversity in relatively arid regions of Africa and adjacent areas.
Onitis alexis
Bronze Dung Beetle
Onitis alexis, commonly known as the bronze dung beetle, is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae. Native to Africa and parts of the Mediterranean region, it has been introduced to Australia where it has become established in warmer northern regions. The species has been studied for its phenology and survival strategies in marginal environments at the southern edge of its Australian range. It belongs to a genus of dung beetles that play important roles in nutrient cycling through dung burial activities.
Onthophagus
Onthophagus is the most species-rich genus in the subfamily Scarabaeinae (true dung beetles), containing over 2,200 species across approximately 30 subgenera. The genus has a global distribution spanning all major biogeographic regions. Members are characterized by extreme diversity in male horn morphology, which has made them a model system for studying sexual selection and evolutionary developmental biology. The genus name derives from Greek roots meaning 'dung-eater.'
Onthophagus alluvius
Onthophagus alluvius is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Howden and Cartwright in 1963. It is native to the southern United States, particularly Texas, and extends into central and eastern Mexico. The species has been documented using dog dung as a resource. Like other Onthophagus species, it likely engages in tunneling behavior to bury dung for larval development, though specific behavioral details for this species remain limited.
Onthophagus arnetti
Onthophagus arnetti is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Howden and Cartwright in 1963. Like other members of the genus Onthophagus, it is likely associated with mammal dung, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species is known from Arizona in the southwestern United States.
Onthophagus batesi
Onthophagus batesi is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, distributed across Central America, Mexico, and parts of the southern United States. The species belongs to a genus renowned for male horn polymorphism and complex sexual selection dynamics. Like other Onthophagus species, it is associated with mammal dung for feeding and breeding. It was described by Harold in 1867 and has also been classified under the genus Phalops.
Onthophagus brevifrons
Onthophagus brevifrons is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by George Henry Horn in 1881. The species is distributed across parts of the southern United States and northern Mexico, occurring in Arizona, Kansas, Texas, Durango, and San Luis Potosí. Like other members of the genus Onthophagus, it is a tunneling dung beetle that buries dung for larval development. The specific epithet "brevifrons" refers to the short frontal region of the head.
Onthophagus browni
Onthophagus browni is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Howden and Cartwright in 1963. It belongs to the large and diverse genus Onthophagus, which contains over 2,000 species worldwide. Like other members of its genus, this species is associated with mammal dung, playing a role in nutrient cycling. The species is distributed across parts of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Onthophagus cavernicollis
Cave-dwelling Dung Beetle
Onthophagus cavernicollis is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Howden and Cartwright in 1963. The species epithet "cavernicollis" suggests a possible association with cave or subterranean habitats, though specific ecological details remain limited. Like other members of the genus Onthophagus, it is presumed to be a dung-feeding beetle involved in nutrient recycling. The species has been documented in the south-central United States.
Onthophagus cochisus
Onthophagus cochisus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Brown in 1927. It belongs to the genus Onthophagus, a large and diverse group of tunneler dung beetles found worldwide. The species is known from limited distribution records in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico.
Onthophagus coproides
Onthophagus coproides is a small dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Horn in 1881. It measures 11–14 mm in length. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and northern Mexico, where it participates in dung decomposition and nutrient cycling in arid and semi-arid environments.
Onthophagus cynomysi
Onthophagus cynomysi is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Brown in 1927. It is part of the large and diverse genus Onthophagus, which contains hundreds of species distributed worldwide. Like other members of this genus, it is likely associated with mammalian dung as a food and breeding resource, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented. The species is known from scattered records in the south-central United States.
Onthophagus depressus
scarab beetle
Onthophagus depressus is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, originally described from Africa and now established in Australia and the southeastern United States as an introduced species. It belongs to a genus well-studied for sexual selection and horn polymorphism in males, though specific behavioral studies for this species are limited. The species has been recorded in carrion-associated beetle communities, suggesting broader feeding ecology than strict dung specialization.
Onthophagus durangoensis
Onthophagus durangoensis is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, native to mountainous regions of Mexico and extending into the southwestern United States. It inhabits montane forests and has been documented in states across central and western Mexico, as well as in Arizona and New Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it is associated with mammal dung and plays a role in nutrient cycling in its ecosystems. The species was described by Balthasar in 1939 and is considered valid and accepted in current taxonomy.
Onthophagus hecate blatchleyi
Scooped Scarab
Onthophagus hecate blatchleyi is a small dung beetle subspecies in the family Scarabaeidae, recognized as a regional variant of the Scooped Scarab. Males possess a distinctive broad, forked horn projecting from the thorax, which they use in combat for mating rights. The species has been documented visiting both dung and carrion, including bird carcasses and cattle feces. Research indicates populations are vulnerable to certain livestock parasiticides, particularly those with persistent residues in dung.
Onthophagus hoepfneri
Onthophagus hoepfneri is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Harold in 1869. The species occurs across parts of Mexico, Central America, and the southwestern United States. As a member of the genus Onthophagus, it is likely a tunneler-type dung beetle that buries dung for larval development, though specific behavioral and ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Onthophagus knausi
Onthophagus knausi is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Brown in 1927. It belongs to the large genus Onthophagus, which contains numerous species known for their role in dung decomposition and distinctive male horn polymorphisms. The species is recorded from the central United States, with distribution records from Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, and Texas.
Onthophagus mextexus
Onthophagus mextexus is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Howden and Cartwright in 1970. The species occurs in montane regions of northeastern Mexico and southern Texas, USA. As a member of the genus Onthophagus, it is presumed to be a tunneler dung beetle that buries dung for larval development, though specific natural history details remain undocumented. The species was described from specimens collected in the Mexican states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo, Nuevo León, Puebla, San Luis Potosí, and Veracruz.
Onthophagus nuchicornis
Small black-and-brown Dung Beetle
Onthophagus nuchicornis is a Palearctic dung beetle introduced to North America in the 1840s, now established across Canada and the northern United States. The species exhibits generalist coprophagy, successfully reproducing using dung from both domestic livestock and indigenous mammals including bobcat, moose, red fox, and raccoon. It possesses an obligatory cold reproductive diapause restricting it to a single generation per year. In the United Kingdom, it is listed as Vulnerable, while in North America it is abundant and has been employed as a model organism for ecotoxicological studies of ivermectin effects on dung burial behavior.
dung-beetleintroduced-speciescoprophagediapauseecotoxicology-modelpasture-ecosystemsexual-dimorphismivermectin-effectsgeneralist-feederPalaearctic-nativeNearctic-introducedsingle-generation-per-yearbrood-balltunneling-behaviorcompetition-with-native-speciesCLIMEX-bioclimatic-modelnutrient-cyclingsoil-aerationcattle-pasture-managementVulnerable-(UK)Onthophagus oklahomensis
Onthophagus oklahomensis is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Brown in 1927. It belongs to the genus Onthophagus, a large and diverse group of tunneler dung beetles known for their ecological role in nutrient recycling. The species is documented from the southeastern and south-central United States, with records extending from Oklahoma eastward to the Atlantic coast. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to be associated with mammal dung, though specific ecological studies on this species are limited.
Onthophagus orpheus
Green-bronze Dung Beetle
Onthophagus orpheus is a dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, abundant in urban forests of the eastern United States. Males possess prominent thoracic horns used in combat for access to females, with horn size varying continuously across individuals. The species has been extensively studied for its sexual selection dynamics and serves as a model for urban adaptation in insects. A high-quality genome assembly has been published to support research on behavioral ecology and population genetics.
Onthophagus orpheus pseudorpheus
Onthophagus orpheus pseudorpheus is a subspecies of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. As a member of the genus Onthophagus, it exhibits the characteristic tunnelling behavior and horned male morphology typical of this diverse dung beetle group. The nominate subspecies O. orpheus orpheus has been studied in urban environments, where males use their horns in combat for access to females, suggesting similar behavioral ecology may apply to this subspecies.
Onthophagus pennsylvanicus
Onthophagus pennsylvanicus is a dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Harold in 1871. It belongs to a genus known for tunneling behavior and brood ball construction. The species occurs in North America, with records from the United States and Canada.
Onthophagus schaefferi
Onthophagus schaefferi is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Howden and Cartwright in 1963. It belongs to the genus Onthophagus, a large and diverse group of dung beetles known for their ecological role in nutrient recycling and their complex sexual selection dynamics involving horned males. The species has been recorded from Texas in the United States and Veracruz in Mexico, placing it within the Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic realms. Like other members of its genus, it likely participates in dung burial behavior, though specific details for this species remain limited.
Onthophagus striatulus
Lined Dung Beetle
Onthophagus striatulus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, commonly known as the Lined Dung Beetle. The species occurs in North America, with documented records from Québec, Canada. Two subspecies are recognized: Onthophagus striatulus striatulus (the nominate subspecies) and Onthophagus striatulus floridanus. As a member of the genus Onthophagus, it shares the characteristic tunneling behavior typical of this diverse group of dung beetles.
Onthophagus subaeneus
Onthophagus subaeneus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It belongs to the diverse genus Onthophagus, which includes species known for horned males and brood ball construction. The species has been documented across a broad range of eastern and central United States. Specific ecological details for this species remain limited in available sources.
Onthophagus subopacus
Onthophagus subopacus is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Robinson in 1940. The species is recorded from the southwestern United States (Arizona) and western Mexico (Durango, Jalisco, Sonora). As a member of the genus Onthophagus, it likely participates in dung burial and nutrient cycling, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Onthophagus subtropicus
Onthophagus subtropicus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Howden and Cartwright in 1963. It belongs to the large genus Onthophagus, which contains over 2,000 species of tunneling dung beetles distributed worldwide. The species name suggests an association with subtropical regions. Like other members of its genus, it is presumed to feed on mammal dung and to exhibit sexual dimorphism with horned males, though specific studies on this species are limited.