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How to tell if your
beetle is a dung
beetle
References
Glossary
The importance of
Dung Beetles
Acknowledgements
Euoniticellus africanus (Greater Sandy Dung Beetle)
Distribution
Throughout Mozambique, Lesotho and South Africa.
Introduced to Australia between 1971 and 1977 in in all states except the Northern Territory. Now established throughout New South Wales and in one region in Victoria. In open areas & pastures, mainly in cattle dung.
Description
Total length 8-13mm. Light to dark, reddish brown.
Head: Clypeal margin without teeth. Surface flat, glabrous.
Pronotum: Speckled with dark markings, 2 distinct dark spots medially. Surface densely covered with coarse punctures, shiny, glabrous.
Elytra: Striae impressed and moderately punctate. Intervals slightly convex. Dorsal surface with short bristles, and a line of longer setae along posterior margin. Reddish-brown, speckled with dark markings.
Legs: Ventral surface of hind femora pale, with a dark area in the middle.
Abdomen: Pygidium slightly convex, strongly bordered, with numerous punctures bearing very short setae.
Sexual dimorphism
Female: No external differences other than the last abdominal sternite.
References
Cassis, G. & Weir, T.A. (1992) Scarabaeinae. pp 106-173. In: Houston, W.W.K. (ed.) Zoological Catalogue of Australia. Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea. Canberra: AGPS Vol. 9.
Tyndale-Biscoe, M. (1990) Common Dung Beetles in Pastures of South-eastern Australia. CSIRO Division of Entomology.
Copyright © Australian Museum 2016
Authors: Rebecca Harris & Dr. Chris Reid