Dung-beetle
Guides
Onthophagus tuberculifrons
Onthophagus tuberculifrons is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Harold in 1871. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Nearctic region of North America and Oceania, including Hawaii. Like other members of the genus Onthophagus, it is presumed to be associated with mammal dung for feeding and breeding. The specific epithet "tuberculifrons" refers to tubercles on the frons (front of the head).
Onthophilus lecontei
Leconte's clown beetle
Onthophilus lecontei is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae. It is known from North America, with records from California and other parts of the United States. The species was described by Horn in 1870. As a member of Onthophilus, it belongs to a genus associated with dung and carrion habitats.
Onthophilus wenzeli
clown beetle
Onthophilus wenzeli is a species of clown beetle in the family Histeridae, described by Helava in 1978. The species is known from the central United States, with records from Iowa, Illinois, and Nebraska. Like other members of the genus Onthophilus, it is associated with dung and decaying organic matter. The specific epithet honors an individual with the surname Wenzel.
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 crassuloides
Oscarinus crassuloides is a dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Fall in 1907. The species belongs to the subfamily Aphodiinae, a group commonly associated with dung decomposition. It occurs in the southwestern United States and central Mexico. Like other members of its genus, it likely contributes to nutrient cycling through dung burial activities.
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 rusicola
Oscarinus rusicola is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, found across much of Canada and the northern and eastern United States. It is primarily associated with cattle dung, where it buries feces into soil. This activity reduces methane emissions, recycles nutrients, and suppresses pest fly populations. The species is sensitive to cattle parasiticides that persist in dung.
Oscarinus stuessyi
Oscarinus stuessyi is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Gordon and Skelley in 2007. It belongs to the subfamily Aphodiinae, which includes many species associated with dung decomposition. The species occurs in the south-central United States. Like other members of its genus, it likely contributes to nutrient cycling in pasture ecosystems.
Oscarinus texensis
Oscarinus texensis is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Cartwright in 1972. The species is endemic to Texas, USA, and belongs to a genus known for its ecological role in cattle farming systems. Like other members of Oscarinus, this species is associated with bovine dung and contributes to nutrient cycling in agricultural landscapes.
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.
Otophorus haemorrhoidalis
Otophorus haemorrhoidalis is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It has a broad distribution spanning the Palearctic region (Europe, Asia, and North Africa) and has been introduced to the Nearctic region (North America), where it is established in Canada and the United States. The species is associated with dung habitats and plays a role in nutrient cycling. Despite its wide distribution, detailed biological studies on this species remain limited.
Oxyomoides sepultus
Oxyomoides sepultus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described by Cartwright in 1944 and is known from a limited number of records in the south-central United States. The genus Oxyomoides is small and poorly studied, with most species remaining obscure in terms of biology and ecology.
Oxyomus
Oxyomus is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles established by Dejean in 1833. The genus comprises approximately 25 described species distributed across Europe, Asia, Africa, and North America. Members of this genus are classified within the subfamily Aphodiinae, a group commonly known as lesser dung beetles.
Oxyomus sylvestris
Oxyomus sylvestris is an aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is distributed across Europe, the Near East, North Africa, and has been introduced to North America. Unlike many scarabaeid dung beetles, it is saprophagous, feeding on decaying organic matter rather than fresh dung.
Parapsammodius bidens
Parapsammodius bidens is a small aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It belongs to the tribe Psammodiini, which includes many sand-dwelling species. The species was described by Horn in 1871 and is known from scattered records across the southeastern United States, Caribbean islands, and Puerto Rico. Like other members of its tribe, it is likely associated with sandy substrates and decomposing organic matter.
Parapsammodius puncticollis
Parapsammodius puncticollis is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. The species was described by LeConte in 1858. It has been recorded from the southwestern United States and Mexico.
Parataenius
Parataenius is a genus of small aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Balthasar in 1961. The genus comprises approximately six described species distributed primarily in the Neotropical region. Members are classified within the tribe Eupariini. Parataenius simulator has been introduced to Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile, where it was detected at Mataveri International Airport.
Parataenius simulator
Parataenius simulator is a small aphodiine dung beetle native to South America that has established an exceptionally broad global distribution spanning six biogeographic realms. First described by Harold in 1868, this species has been recorded across the Americas, Africa, Europe, Australia, and the Caribbean. In 2024, it was reported for the first time on Rapa Nui (Easter Island), Chile, where adult specimens were intercepted at Mataveri International Airport; no self-sustaining populations have been confirmed elsewhere on the island. The mechanism and timing of its worldwide dispersal remain subjects of investigation.
Pardalosus
Pardalosus is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles described by Gordon & Skelley in 2007. The genus is native to North America, with highest species diversity in western regions. Unlike many aphodiine beetles, most Pardalosus species appear to be detritivores with weak dung associations, though some species have documented relationships with rodents.
Pardalosus pardalis
Pardalosus pardalis is a scarab beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. First described by LeConte in 1857, this species is distributed across western North America, with records from California, Idaho, Nebraska in the United States, and British Columbia in Canada. It belongs to the dung beetle group Aphodiini, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pardalosus sayi
Pardalosus sayi is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The species was described by Robert D. Gordon in 2006. It belongs to a genus of small dung beetles distributed in North America. Like other aphodiine scarabs, it is likely associated with dung decomposition, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Pardalosus slevini
Pardalosus slevini is a species of scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described by Van Dyke in 1928. It is a dung beetle endemic to California. The genus Pardalosus contains species associated with burrowing owl nests and mammal burrows. Records for this species are sparse, with only two observations documented on iNaturalist.
Phanaeus amithaon
Phanaeus amithaon is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is a member of the genus Phanaeus, which includes several North and Central American species known for their bright metallic coloration and distinctive horns in males. The species occurs in the southwestern United States and across much of Mexico.
Phanaeus difformis
Phanaeus difformis is a dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae native to the south-central United States and adjacent far northern Mexico. It belongs to a genus known for colorful, horned males that specialize in burying mammal dung for larval development. The species may hybridize with the more common P. vindex where their ranges overlap. Like other Phanaeus species, it provides ecosystem services through dung burial and nutrient recycling.
Phanaeus quadridens
Phanaeus quadridens is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Scarabaeinae. It belongs to the genus Phanaeus, a group known for their role in dung burial and nutrient recycling. The species has been documented in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Two subspecies are recognized: P. q. quadridens and P. q. borealis.
Phanaeus texensis
Texas Black Phanaeus
Phanaeus texensis is a dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Edmonds in 1994. The species belongs to a genus renowned for its colorful, horned males and ecological role in dung burial. It is found in Texas and adjacent regions of Mexico.
Phanaeus vindex
Rainbow Scarab, Rainbow Dung Beetle
Phanaeus vindex is a medium-sized tunneling dung beetle native to eastern and central North America. Adults are sexually dimorphic and exhibit striking metallic coloration, with males bearing a prominent curved horn. The species creates complex underground tunnel systems beneath dung deposits, constructing both brood balls for reproduction and food caches for adult feeding. It is the most widespread Phanaeus species in the United States and demonstrates behavioral plasticity in response to temperature, adjusting burial depth of food caches under warmer conditions. The species provides important ecosystem services through dung removal, nutrient cycling, and secondary seed dispersal.
Phelister panamensis
A histerid beetle in the P. panamensis species group, widely distributed across the Americas from the United States to Argentina. Frequently found in cattle dung, with distribution likely expanded through association with domestic cattle. The species group is defined by unique hooks on the apex of the male 8th sternite.
Planolinellus vittatus
Planolinellus vittatus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. Originally described as Aphodius vittatus by Thomas Say in 1825, it was later transferred to the genus Planolinellus. The species has a broad distribution spanning the Holarctic region, with records from North America, Europe, and Asia.
Planolinoides borealis
Mouse Dung Beetle
Planolinoides borealis, commonly known as the Mouse Dung Beetle, is a small scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae. The species has a broad Holarctic distribution, occurring across northern North America and Eurasia. It is associated with rodent burrows and nests, where it feeds on dung and organic matter. The species was first described by Gyllenhal in 1827.
Planolinoides neotomae
A small dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The species epithet "neotomae" indicates an association with woodrats (genus Neotoma), suggesting a specialized ecological relationship with these rodents. The species is known from western North America and Mexico.
Platytomus longulus
Platytomus longulus is a small aphodiine dung beetle described by Cartwright in 1948. It belongs to the tribe Psammodiini, a group often associated with sandy or loose substrates rather than dense dung. The species occurs across a broad geographic range spanning the southeastern United States and much of South America.
Pleurophorus
Pleurophorus is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Mulsant in 1842. The genus contains at least 37 described species. These beetles are part of the subfamily Aphodiinae, which are generally considered less specialized dung beetles compared to the more well-known scarab dung rollers. Members of Pleurophorus are found in association with dung and decaying organic matter.
Pleurophorus caesus
Pleurophorus caesus is a small aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It has been recorded across a remarkably broad geographic range spanning the Palearctic, Nearctic, Neotropical, Afrotropical, and Madagascan regions. The species belongs to the tribe Psammodiini, which are often associated with sandy or loose substrates. Its widespread distribution suggests either human-mediated dispersal or an underappreciated native range, though this remains unresolved.
Psammodius basalis
Psammodius basalis is a small aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. The species is native to the Palaearctic region and has been introduced to North America, where it is established in Maryland. As a member of the subfamily Aphodiinae, it belongs to a group commonly known as small dung beetles or aphodiines that are associated with decomposing organic matter. The genus Psammodius is distinguished by adaptations to sandy habitats.
Pseudagolius bicolor
Pseudagolius bicolor is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described by Thomas Say in 1823. The species is distributed across parts of North America, including the United States, Canada, and Mexico. As a member of the Aphodiinae, it is likely associated with dung or decaying organic matter, though specific ecological details are poorly documented.
Pseudagolius coloradensis
Pseudagolius coloradensis is a species of scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It is distributed across the Nearctic region from the Canadian prairies through the western and central United States to central Mexico. The species was described by Horn in 1870. Limited behavioral and ecological information is available for this species.
Pseudataenius socialis
Pseudataenius socialis is a species of aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is known from scattered records across the central and southeastern United States. The species was described by Horn in 1871 and is placed in the tribe Eupariini within the subfamily Aphodiinae.
dung-beetleScarabaeidaeAphodiinaeNorth-AmericaColeopteraEupariiniPseudataeniusUnited-StatesKansasLouisianaNebraskaOklahomaSouth-CarolinaTexasHorn-1871Nearcticendogeicsaprophagoussoil-dwellingscarab-beetlebeetleinsectarthropodanimaleukaryotehexapodpolyphagous-beetlestaphyliniformiascarabaeoideaaphodiineaphodiine-dung-beetlescarabscarabaeidscarabaeoidscarabaeoideanstaphyliniformpolyphaganPseudocanthon
Pseudocanthon is a genus of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, tribe Deltochilini. The genus comprises approximately 10 valid species and two subspecies, with five species recorded in South America. Three South American species were described as new in a 2021 taxonomic revision: P. vazdemelloi, P. pantanensis, and P. chaquensis. The genus was historically treated as a subgenus of Canthon but is now recognized at generic rank.
Pseudocanthon perplexus
four-toothed dung beetle
Pseudocanthon perplexus, commonly known as the four-toothed dung beetle, is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae. It is distributed from the United States south through Venezuela, with records from Colombia, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Antilles. The species was originally described as Canthon perplexus by LeConte in 1847 and later transferred to the genus Pseudocanthon.
Rhyssemus puncticollis
Rhyssemus puncticollis is a small dung beetle species in the family Scarabaeidae, first described by Brown in 1929. The species has been recorded from both the Palaearctic region (central and eastern Europe) and the Nearctic region (Ontario, Canada), indicating a transatlantic distribution. It belongs to the tribe Psammodiini, which typically includes species associated with sandy or psammophilous habitats. The specific epithet 'puncticollis' refers to punctation on the pronotum.
Rhyssemus scaber
Rhyssemus scaber is a small aphodiine dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, described by Haldeman in 1848. The species is known from multiple states in the eastern and central United States. As a member of the subfamily Aphodiinae, it belongs to a group of beetles commonly associated with dung and decaying organic matter. The genus Rhyssemus contains species typically adapted to sandy or psammophilic habitats.
Rugaphodius
Rugaphodius is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described by Gordon and Skelley in 2007. The genus belongs to the tribe Aphodiini, a group commonly known as small dung beetles or aphodiine dung beetles. Very limited information is available about this genus, with only one observation recorded in iNaturalist as of the source data.
Scabrostomus peculiosus
Scabrostomus peculiosus is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It belongs to a genus of small to medium-sized scarab beetles associated with dung and decaying organic matter. The species was described by Schmidt in 1917 and is known from a limited number of records in central North America. It is one of the less documented members of the Aphodiinae, a diverse group of beetles often overlooked due to their cryptic habits.
Schaefferellus arizonensis
Schaefferellus arizonensis is a species of scarab beetle in the subfamily Aphodiinae, described by Schaeffer in 1907. It is native to the southwestern United States and northern Mexico. As a member of the Aphodiinae, it belongs to a group commonly known as dung beetles, though specific ecological details for this species remain poorly documented.
Sepsis neocynipsea
black scavenger fly
Sepsis neocynipsea is a black scavenger fly in the family Sepsidae, widespread across the Holarctic region including North American grasslands. The species is obligate on cow dung for reproduction, with females depositing eggs on fresh dung and larvae completing development within or near the dung pat. Research has documented severe sensitivity to ivermectin residues in livestock dung, with females showing approximately three times higher mortality than males when exposed. The species exhibits complex interactions between chemical stress and environmental conditions, including potential hormetic effects where combined heat and ivermectin exposure can improve survival relative to ivermectin alone.
Setodius
Setodius is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was established by Gordon and Skelley in 2007 and belongs to the tribe Aphodiini. The genus is known from the Nearctic region. As a member of Aphodiinae, it is part of a diverse group of dung beetles, though specific ecological details for this genus remain poorly documented.