Home › Insecta › Scarabaeidae › Dung Beetle (Scarabaeus spp.)
SPECIES PROFILE
Dung Beetle (Scarabaeus spp.)
Scarabaeus (and others)
IUCN STATUS
Not Evaluated
CONSERVATION STATUS
Not Evaluated
CLASS
Insecta
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Widespread across Africa
DIET
Detritivorous
HABITAT
Savannas, grasslands, forests
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Arthropoda
CLASS
Insecta
ORDER
Coleoptera
FAMILY
Scarabaeidae
GENUS
Scarabaeus (and others)
📋 Description
SIZE
1-6 cm, 0.5-50 g (varies by species)
COLORATION
Black, metallic green, or brown
ADAPTATIONS
Strong legs for rolling dung; navigation by stars
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Savannas, grasslands, forests
DIET
Detritivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Widespread across Africa
REPRODUCTION
Eggs laid in dung balls; larvae feed inside
DIET DETAILS
Dung
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Habitat loss, declining ungulate populations
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Stellar Navigators: Dung beetles roll balls in straight lines using the Milky Way for guidance, a celestial skill that keeps them from circling back to competitors, a feat confirmed by experiments with planetarium skies. This makes them the only insects known to use stars.
2
Dung Engineers: By burying dung, they fertilize soil and control pests like flies, with a single beetle moving dung 250 times its weight in a night, a Herculean task for ecosystems. Ancient Egyptians revered them as symbols of renewal, sculpting them into scarabs.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Serengeti National Park, Tanzania
Etosha National Park, Namibia
Kruger National Park, South Africa
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
November-March: Wet season increases beetle activity with fresh dung available.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Look for beetles rolling dung after rain during game drives.
