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beetle is a dung
beetle
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The importance of
Dung Beetles
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Lepanus politus
Distribution
New South Wales from Wollongong northward and Queensland north to Fraser Island. In tall open forest.
Description
Total length 2.1-2.6mm. Reddish-brown.
Head: Clypeal teeth long, with a V-shaped space between them. Surface shiny and glabrous, minutely punctate. Dorsal part of eyes moderately wide.
Prothorax: Pronotal surface smooth, shiny and glabrous, evenly punctate with small punctures becoming larger and umbilical towards posterior edge.
Elytra: Striae indistinct and impunctate. Intervals smooth, shiny, and glabrous, with minute punctation.
Sterna: Mesosternum and median lobe of metasternum impunctate, lateral lobes with moderate sized punctures bearing long setae (but usually rubbed off). No tubercle on metasternum.
Legs: Fore tibiae with long, parallel or gently tapering apical digit, bearing a minute spur. Outer margin of fore tibiae with 2 teeth. Middle and hind legs unmodified.
Abdomen: Pygidium with a large median depression which is delimited ventrally by an angular lip. Rest of pygidium smooth and glabrous with minute punctures.
Sexual dimorphism
Female: Fore tibiae with a shorter apical digit, with a long acute spur.
References
Matthews, E.G. (1974) A revision of the Scarabaeine dung beetles of Australia. II. Tribe Scarabaeini. Aust. J. Zool. Suppl. Ser. 24: 1-211.
Copyright © Australian Museum 2016
Authors: Rebecca Harris & Dr. Chris Reid