Geotrupidae
Guides
Bolbocerastes regalis
Regal Earth-boring Beetle
Bolbocerastes regalis is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. It is found in North America, specifically in the southwestern United States and northwestern Mexico. The species was described by Cartwright in 1953.
Bolboceratinae
earth-boring scarab beetles
Bolboceratinae is a subfamily of earth-boring scarab beetles within Geotrupidae, containing approximately 8 genera and at least 40 described species. The group exhibits a disjunct global distribution with centers of diversity in Australia, South America, southern Africa, and parts of Eurasia. Some authorities recognize Bolboceratinae as the family Bolboceratidae. Members are characterized by fossorial adaptations and diverse reproductive strategies including egg gigantism in some lineages.
Bolbocerosoma
earth-boring scarab beetles
Bolbocerosoma is a genus of earth-boring scarab beetles in the family Geotrupidae. The genus contains approximately 13 described species distributed across the Nearctic and Neotropical regions. These beetles are part of the subfamily Bolboceratinae, tribe Odonteini. The genus was established by Schaeffer in 1906 and has been subject to taxonomic revision by Howden (1955).
Bolbocerosoma biplagiatum
Bolbocerosoma biplagiatum is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, described by Dawson & McColloch in 1924. It belongs to the subfamily Bolboceratinae, a group characterized by their burrowing behavior and association with soil and organic matter. The species is known from the central United States, with records spanning from Colorado to Wisconsin and southward to Texas and Oklahoma.
Bolbocerosoma elongatum
Bolbocerosoma elongatum is an earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, described by Howden in 1955. It is a member of the subfamily Bolboceratinae, a group characterized by fossorial (burrowing) habits. The species is known from North America, with records from Texas. Like other members of its genus, it exhibits the typical earth-boring beetle morphology adapted for digging in soil.
Bolbocerosoma ritcheri
Bolbocerosoma ritcheri is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, first described by Howden in 1955. The species belongs to a genus characterized by their burrowing behavior and association with soil substrates. It occurs in parts of North America including Texas and northeastern Mexico.
Bolbocerosoma tumefactum
Bolbocerosoma tumefactum is an earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, native to eastern North America. The species is characterized by its distinctive tumescent (swollen) appearance, reflected in its specific epithet. Like other geotrupids, adults are typically associated with mammal dung and soil-burrowing activities. The species occurs across a broad range of eastern and mid-Atlantic states in the United States.
Bradycinetulus ferrugineus
Bradycinetulus ferrugineus is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. It occurs in the southeastern United States, with records from Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, and South Carolina. The species is associated with rodent burrows, particularly pack rat runs, where adults and larvae have been collected.
Bradycinetulus rex
earth-boring scarab beetle
Bradycinetulus rex is an earth-boring scarab beetle described by Cartwright in 1953. It belongs to the family Geotrupidae, a group commonly known as earth-boring dung beetles for their habit of digging burrows in soil. The species is known from the Nearctic region, with records from Texas. Like other members of its genus, it likely exhibits the fossorial (burrowing) habits characteristic of the family.
Ceratophyus
earth-boring scarab beetles
Ceratophyus is a genus of earth-boring scarab beetles comprising approximately 13 described species. These beetles are known for constructing underground brood chambers using dung, with documented cooperative nest-building behavior between males and females in at least one species. The genus occurs across the Palaearctic region, with species documented in Russia, China, and Mongolia. Some species possess horns used in intraspecific combat.
Eucanthus
earth-boring scarab beetles
Eucanthus is a genus of earth-boring scarab beetles comprising approximately eight described species. These beetles belong to the family Bolboceratidae (formerly placed in Geotrupidae), a group characterized by fossorial (burrowing) habits. The genus was taxonomically revised by Henry F. Howden in 1955 as part of a comprehensive treatment of North American Geotrupinae. Species are distributed across North America, with representatives occurring from the United States through Mexico and into South America.
Eucanthus greeni
Green's Earth-boring Scarab Beetle
Eucanthus greeni is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. It is found in North America, with recorded occurrences in the western United States, central Canada, and northern Mexico. The species belongs to a genus of beetles known for burrowing behavior in soil. As with other members of Geotrupidae, it likely participates in soil ecosystem processes, though specific ecological details remain limited in available literature.
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.
Eucanthus subtropicus
Eucanthus subtropicus is an earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, described by Henry Howden in 1955. The species is found in southeastern North America, with records from Alabama through the Carolinas and Florida. Like other members of the genus, it excavates burrows in soil for larval development. Adults are attracted to light and have been collected in sand dune 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 hornii
Horn's earth-boring beetle
Geotrupes hornii is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. It is found in the northeastern United States and southeastern Canada. Adults are most commonly observed between June and September, with peak activity in August. The species belongs to a group of beetles known for burrowing behavior and association with soil and organic matter.
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.
Mycotrupes retusus
Sandhills Earth-boring Scarab Beetle
Mycotrupes retusus is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. It is endemic to the sandhills region of the southeastern United States, specifically North Carolina and South Carolina. The species is poorly known, with only eight documented observations on iNaturalist and minimal published biological information. As a member of the Geotrupidae, it likely exhibits fossorial behavior typical of the family.
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.
Odonteus filicornis
earth-boring scarab beetle
Odonteus filicornis is an earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. The species was described by Thomas Say in 1823. It is native to North America and has been documented across the central United States and southern Canada.
Peltotrupes profundus
Florida Deep-digger Scarab, Florida deepdigger scarab
Peltotrupes profundus is an earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae, endemic to Florida. The species was described by Henry Howden in 1952 and belongs to a genus of deep-burrowing beetles adapted to sandy substrates. Two subspecies are recognized: the nominate P. p. profundus and P. p. dubius. Like other geotrupids, adults construct deep burrows for larval development.
Peltotrupes youngi
Young's deep digger scarab, Young's deepdigger scarab, ocala burrowing scarab, ocala deepdigger scarab beetle
Peltotrupes youngi is a species of earth-boring scarab beetle in the family Geotrupidae. It is endemic to Florida scrubs in Marion and Putnam counties, representing a highly restricted geographic range. The species was described by Howden in 1955 and is one of several species in the genus Peltotrupes, which are characterized by their burrowing habits and association with sandy substrates.