Dung Beetles
Local to NE Victoria (Native & Introduced)
There is a diverse species range in native dung beetles. Most of these are not adapted to coping with the large volumes of dung produced by european livestock in Australia. Dung beetles utilise fresh dung as a food source for the eggs they lay. They actively relocate dung into the soil by burying it using it as a food source for their eggs.
In the late 1960's to the mid 1980's the CSIRO imported numerous species of dung beetles from places such as southern and northern Africa, Europe, Morocco and Pakistan. If you wish to know more about CSIRO then visit http://www.publish.csiro.au
NOTE: (All images will be uploaded again)
I have been collecting dung beetle specimens for education purposes for a number of years. There are about 17 introduced and about 350 native species found in Australia. In North East Victoria there are about 7 different introduced and 3 native species that I am aware of. Here is a short guide:
INTRODUCED Species
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Onitis alexis
Length: 15-20 mm
Color: Pronotum (the head) dark brown, with a coppery green sheen, wing covers-light brown
Active period of Adults: Spring to Autumn
Special distinguishing Features: Males have a single sharp spur on their hind legs, females have no spurs
Lifespan: During summer approximately 3 months
Comments: I have found this only in light soils such as granite hills & along the Ovens River
Flight time: usually flies at dusk, & again at night, found under bright lights on warm summer nights.
Geotrupes spiniger
Length: 20-25 mm
Color: Dorsal surface black, underneath violet-purple
Active period of Adults: Autumn, early Winter & in Spring
Special distinguishing Features: when revealed underneath, it shines like a jewel Status/distribution: mainly occuring at Murmungee south of Beechworth. Introduced to the area by the Burgoigee Landcare Group
Fly time: Adults are day & night fliers, at dusk & again when its darker they will be attracted to bright lights especially on warm evenings.
Bubous bison
Length: unknown
Color: Black
Active period of Adults: Winter
Special distinguishing Features: Males have a horn structure consisting of 3, two stick out & the other points forward. Some females have 2 short horns that are located on the pronotum (head) while others have small bumps.
Status/distribution: Gippsland Victoria
Euoniticellus fulvus
Length: 8-12 mm
Color: light to mid-brown
Active period of Adults: Spring to Autumn
Special distinguishing Features: The pronotum (head) has no speckling, the elytra (wing covers) may be darker & contain brown markings, but no speckling
Status/distribution: very common across the region
Onthophagus taurus
Length: 8-10 mm
Color: Black
Active period for adults: Spring to Autumn
Special distinguishing Features: Some (major) males have a pair of curved frontal horns extending backwards halfway over the pronotum (head). Other minor males have tiny horns projecting up from the head. The females have no horns
Status/distribution: very common across the region
Onthophagus binodis
Length: 11-13 mm
Color: Black
Active period of Adults: Late Spring to Autumn
Special distinguishing Features: The beetles have a lobe (bump) on the pronotum (head) which is generally larger in the males than it is in the females
Status/distribution: very common across the region
NATIVE Species
(I have discovered only 3 at this stage.)
Onthophagus australis
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Length: 8-10 mm
Color: coppery green, black & hairy underneath
Active period of Adults: Spring to Autumn
Special distinguishing Features: very hairy underneath
Status/distribution: common in cow pads across the region
Onthophagus pentacanthus
(Courtesy of www.dungbeetles.com.au)
Length: 18-20 mm
Color: Black & hairy underneath
Active period of Adults: not sure
Special distinguishing Features: one spine on the head, 4 on pronotum
Status/distribution: Often found in around horse dung. We have found it near Springhurst. Tend to prefer sandy soils.
Onthophagus mniszechi
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(NOT a North East Local)
Length: 19-21 mm
Color: Black & hairy underneath
Active period of Adults: not sure
Special distinguishing Features: one spine on the head, 2 on pronotum
Status/distribution: mainly a coastal species, has been located in Gippsland, Victoria.
Other Species of beetles found in dung, but NOT True Dung Beetles.
Aphodius fimetarius
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Length: 7-9 mm
Color: black pronotum (head) maroon red body
Active period of Adults: Spring to Summer
Status/distribution: very common across the region, lives in dung but does not bury.
Heteronychus arator
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(often called an Alexander Beetle)
Length: 11-14 mm
Color: black
Active period of Adults: Spring, Autumn & Summer
Status/distribution: known as the "Black Beetle". This species was accidently introduced into Australia. very common in North-East Victoria.
Hister nomas
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Color: Shiny black
Length: 7-9 mm
Special distinguishing Features: Body is smooth with little demarcation between the pronotum & the wing covers. The head is sometimes tucked under the pronotum which is Not always visible.
Introduction to Australia: This species was released between 1968 & 1975 in Queensland, Tasmania, New South Wales, Victoria, & Western Australia.
Active period of Adults: Spring to Autumn in cooler conditions of its distribution.
Additional notes: This is NOT a True Dung Beetle, although it lives in dung. Adults & Larvae are both carnivorous, feeding on Fly larvae in the dung. Adults can live up to 6 months.