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beetle
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The importance of
Dung Beetles
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Genus Sisyphus
Species found in eastern New South Wales: One introduced species, S. spinipes.
Distribution
Throughout central and eastern Africa, from Abyssinia to South Africa.
Description
Medium (8-11mm). Colour dark brown or black. Broadly oval, barrel-shaped. 4 clypeal teeth and 2 teeth at junction of frons and clypeus. Anterior part of underside of pronotum deeply excavated anteriorly, apical angles pointed. No tubercles or keels on pronotum or elytra. Surfaces of head and pronotum covered with short, thick bristles.
Elytra: elytra with 8 striae. Epipleuron absent (upper edge of abdominal sternites visible from side). Intervals flat. Surface covered with short, thick bristles.
Hind wings: Fully developed.
Legs: Middle coxae parallel and widely separated. Mid and hind tibiae thin, without external teeth. Mid and hind tibiae and tarsi long and thin. Claws large, simple.
Abdomen: Sternites normal. Pygidium fully exposed, elongated, without grooves or depressions.
Sexual dimorphism
Female: No external differences other than the last abdominal sternite.
Similar Genera
Onthophagus(some species), of a similar size, general shape and colour.
Obvious differences: Onthophagus with hind femora and tibiae not elongated, clypeal margin without teeth at junction of frons and clypeus.
Ecology
Adults coprophagous, winged, in open areas and pastures, mostly in cow dung.
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