Dung-beetles
Guides
Aegialia
Aegialia is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Latreille in 1807. Species in this genus are distributed across the Palaearctic, Nearctic, and Neotropical regions. The genus includes the subgenus Silluvia, with several species described from the Sino-Tibetan mountains of China.
Aphodiinae
Small Dung Beetles
Aphodiinae is a large and diverse subfamily of Scarabaeidae comprising more than 3,500 described species across over 380 genera and 12 tribes. Members are commonly known as small dung beetles, though not all species are associated with dung. The subfamily exhibits varied life strategies including coprophagy, detritivory, saprophagy, predation, inquilinism in ant or termite nests, and sand-dwelling habits. Aphodiines are found worldwide in diverse habitats from temperate rainforests to alpine zones and coastal dunes.
Aphodius
dung beetles
Aphodius is a genus of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The genus was established by Hellwig in 1798, with Scarabaeus fimetarius Linnaeus, 1758 designated as the type species by Latreille in 1810. Species in this genus typically dominate dung beetle communities in north temperate ecosystems and are classified as endocoprids (dwellers), with larvae living and feeding within dung pats. Most species are coprophagous, though some have herbivorous or saprophagous larvae. The genus currently includes 44 recognized species, of which 21 are extinct.
Ataeniopsis
Ataeniopsis is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles established by Petrovitz in 1973. The genus comprises approximately 15 described species. As members of the subfamily Aphodiinae, these beetles are classified within the tribe Eupariini. The genus occurs in the Nearctic and Neotropical biogeographic regions.
Australaphodius
Australaphodius is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Balthasar in 1942. The genus contains at least four described species, with records from Australia. As aphodiines, members of this genus are likely associated with dung decomposition, though specific ecological details remain poorly documented.
Deltochilini
Deltochilini is a large tribe of dung beetles in the subfamily Scarabaeinae, comprising approximately 800 species across 120 genera. Members exhibit substantial variation in size (2–33 mm) and body form. The tribe has undergone taxonomic revision, with Deltochilini restored as the valid name over the junior synonym Canthonini. Despite historical classification based on morphological traits such as reduced tibial dentition, these characteristics have limited phylogenetic support.
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.
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.
Dichotomius
Dichotomius is a genus of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) established by Hope in 1838. Species in the genus are medium-sized to large dung beetles, with members of the depressicollis species group measuring 17.4–27.3 mm. The genus belongs to the tribe Dichotomiini and is distributed across the Neotropical and Nearctic regions.
Eupariini
eupariine dung beetles, small dung beetles
Eupariini is a diverse tribe of small dung beetles in the subfamily Aphodiinae (Scarabaeidae). The tribe comprises over 40 genera and approximately 640 described species globally, with exceptional diversity in the Neotropics where around 28 genera and 333 species occur. Members are smaller than their sister lineage Scarabaeinae. The tribe has a broad geographic distribution spanning the Australian, Oriental, and Neotropical zoogeographical regions, with fossil representatives known from Eocene Baltic amber.
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.
Exosternini
clown beetles
Exosternini is a tribe of clown beetles (family Histeridae) containing at least 60 genera and approximately 800 described species. Members are predominantly small, predatory beetles with diverse body forms ranging from compact and rounded to bizarrely flattened. The tribe includes notable genera such as Baconia, known for brilliant metallic coloration, and Operclipygus, characterized by clamshell-like pygidia. Many species remain poorly known due to extreme rarity and tropical distribution.
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.
Glyptholaspis
Glyptholaspis is a genus of macrochelid mites (Acari: Mesostigmata) first described by Filipponi and Pegazzano in 1960. The genus comprises approximately 10 species worldwide, including G. fimicola (the type species), G. americana, and G. confusa. Species in this genus are associated with dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) via phoresy, using beetles for transport between dung microhabitats. Two species, G. americana and G. confusa, have been documented in Australia, while G. fimicola has been recorded from Bali, Indonesia.
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.
Malagoniella
Malagoniella is a genus of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, tribe Deltochilini. It was described by Martinez in 1961 and was formerly classified within the tribe Canthonini. The genus contains approximately 10 described species distributed in the Neotropical region.
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.
Melanocanthon
Melanocanthon is a genus of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Halffter in 1958. The genus contains at least four described species distributed in the Nearctic region. Unlike many scarabaeine dung beetles, at least one species (M. nigricornis) has been documented utilizing fungus and carrion rather than dung as primary food resources.
Neopsammodius
Neopsammodius is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Rakovič in 1986. The genus comprises nine described species distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. These beetles belong to the tribe Psammodiini, a group associated with sandy habitats. Species within this genus were originally described under other genera and later transferred to Neopsammodius.
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.
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.
Onthophagini
Onthophagine dung beetles
Onthophagini is a large and ecologically significant tribe of dung beetles within the family Scarabaeidae. The tribe comprises approximately half of the world's dung beetle fauna, with the genus Onthophagus alone containing over 2,300 species worldwide. Members are found on every continent except Antarctica. The tribe originated from a single common ancestor shared with the Oniticellini, with which it forms a monophyletic group. While many dung beetles are known for ball-rolling behavior, Onthophagini species exhibit diverse feeding strategies including specialization on fungi, carrion, and dead millipedes, with some species living in close association with termites and ants.
Phelister
clown beetles
A large genus of clown beetles (Histeridae) comprising over 90 described species. Members of the genus occupy diverse habitats including carrion, dung, and vertebrate nests. The P. panamensis species group is distinguished by unique hooks on the apex of the male 8th sternite.
Philonthus
Philonthus is a large genus of rove beetles (Staphylinidae) containing over 380 described species. These beetles are generally robust predators found in diverse habitats including decomposing organic matter, carrion, dung, and fungal substrates. The genus has a nearly cosmopolitan distribution with particular diversity in the Palaearctic region. Several species have been documented as rapidly colonizing new habitats and competing with native species.
Planolinellus
Planolinellus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The genus was established by Dellacasa & Dellacasa in 2005. It belongs to the tribe Aphodiini and is part of the diverse group of dung beetles and related taxa within the scarab family. Species in this genus are small to medium-sized beetles associated with decomposing organic matter.
Planolinoides
Planolinoides is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was described by Dellacasa & Dellacasa in 2005. The genus contains species distributed in the Palaearctic and Nearctic regions. Members of this genus are small dung beetles associated with mammal dung.
Platytomus
Platytomus is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, containing more than 20 described species. The genus was established by Mulsant in 1842. Species in this genus are classified within the tribe Psammodiini, a group often associated with sandy or psammophilous habitats. The genus has a cosmopolitan distribution, with records from multiple continents.
Psammodiini
Psammodiini is a tribe of aphodiine dung beetles within the family Scarabaeidae, containing more than 37 genera and approximately 470 described species. Members are primarily associated with sandy habitats, with many species exhibiting psammophilic (sand-loving) adaptations. The tribe was established by Mulsant in 1842 and represents a diverse lineage within the subfamily Aphodiinae.
Pseudagolius
Pseudagolius is a genus of scarab beetles in the subfamily Aphodiinae, established by Schmidt in 1914. It belongs to the tribe Aphodiini, a group commonly known as small dung beetles. The genus is recognized in the Nearctic region, though specific biological details remain poorly documented in available literature.
Pseudataenius
Pseudataenius is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, established by Brown in 1927. The genus contains at least three described species: P. contortus, P. gracilitarsis, and P. socialis. Members of this genus are classified within the tribe Eupariini, a group of small to medium-sized scarab beetles often associated with dung and decaying organic matter.
Scabrostomus
Scabrostomus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. The genus was established in 2007 by Gordon and Skelley based on Nearctic species. It belongs to the tribe Aphodiini, a group commonly known as small dung beetles. Very little published information exists on the biology or ecology of this genus.
Scarabaeinae
true dung beetles, dung beetles
Scarabaeinae is a subfamily of scarab beetles comprising the true dung beetles. Adults typically feed on dung, though some species consume carrion, decaying fruit, or fungi. The subfamily is divided into three functional guilds—rollers (telecoprids), tunnelers (paracoprids), and dwellers (endocoprids)—based on dung processing behavior. Members exhibit modified mouthparts with an expanded clypeus covering the mandibles, and possess a space between the middle legs for dung manipulation. The subfamily originated in the Lower Cretaceous (115–130 million years ago) and is hypothesized to have co-evolved with dinosaurs.
Scarabaeoidea
Scarabs, Stag Beetles, Dung Beetles, Fruit and Flower Chafers
Scarabaeoidea is a superfamily of beetles comprising approximately 35,000 described species, with around 200 new species described annually. It is the sole superfamily within the infraorder Scarabaeiformia. The group includes diverse families such as Scarabaeidae (scarabs, dung beetles, chafers), Lucanidae (stag beetles), Geotrupidae (earth-boring scarabs), and Bolboceratidae. Many species exhibit distinctive circularly polarized light reflection from their cuticles, produced by helicoidal stacks of chitin microfibrils. The superfamily is currently undergoing taxonomic revision at the family level.
Schaefferellus
Schaefferellus is a genus of scarab beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. It was established by Gordon and Skelley in 2007 and is classified within the tribe Aphodiini. The genus belongs to the dung beetle group Aphodiina, which are generally small to medium-sized beetles associated with decomposing organic matter. Very little published information exists on the biology or species diversity of this genus.
Xeropsamobeus
Xeropsamobeus is a genus of aphodiine dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, containing approximately 10 described species. The genus was established by Saylor in 1937. Species in this genus are native to arid regions of western North America, with several species described from desert habitats in the southwestern United States and Mexico. Most species were described or revised by Gordon and Skelley in 2007.