Keystone-species-associate

Guides

• Alloblackburneus troglodytes

  Little Gopher Tortoise Scarab Beetle

  Alloblackburneus troglodytes is a small scarab beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Aphodiinae. Commonly known as the Little Gopher Tortoise Scarab Beetle, this species is associated with gopher tortoise burrows in the southeastern United States. The specific epithet "troglodytes" (meaning "cave-dweller") reflects its habit of living in the subterranean burrow systems of its reptilian host.

  ScarabaeidaeAphodiinaegopher-tortoiseburrow-commensalsoutheastern-USsubterraneanlongleaf-pinesandhill-ecosystemtroglophilekeystone-species-associatecommensalismcave-dwelling-beetle