COLEOPTERA > POLYPHAGA > SCARABAEOIDEA > Scarabaeidae

Britain's eight Onthophagus 'true dung beetle' species are placed in the Scarabaeinae subfamily together with Copris lunaris commonly known as the Horned Dung Beetle that, sadly, is now almost certainly extinct. Similarly, with both Onthophagus taurus and Onthophagus verticicornis. And, when looking at the available distribution data for the remaining species, I find that Onthophagus fraticornis, O.medius and O.nuchicornis are all very local and rare and, as far as I can ascertain, are not likely to be found in my area. So, realistically, that just leaves Onthophagus coenobita and Onthophagus similis and, possibly, an outside chance of Onthophagus joannae, none of which are particularly common.

I've found a couple of Onthophagus similis individuals in our back garden and, although the species is more likely to occur in grassland or heathland habitats, or along woodland edges, we do back onto a small paddock and this particular beetle is associated with horse dung. It's a rather attractive, relatively small, 5-8mm, bicoloured species with a weakly metallic black head and pronotum, and a yellowish-brown, heavily dark mottled elytra.

They become active in the spring and are most frequently encountered during June or July. Females excavate their burrows directly underneath the dung where they lay their eggs. Larvae develop through the summer with new adults appearing from August, or remaining underground to overwinter. On hot summer days, adults may be seen on or around dung, but otherwise are going to be hidden beneath or within the burrows.

Aphodiinae is the largest subfamily with around 55 species, most of which are associated with dung although some are more often found in decaying organic matter. The majority were grouped in the genus Aphodius in various subgenera, but have now been split into over twenty separate genera. These species generally have a smooth black, rounded pronotum and black, brown or reddish striate elytra. Unlike the Onthophagus beetles that dig tunnels beneath dung, the Aphodiinae mostly lay their eggs on surface matter.

They can be rather tricky to identify from photos, but by carefully going through various pictorial guides and keys I've been able to put a name to two that I've photographed. Firstly, Melinopterus prodromus, a 4-7mm, slightly elongated species with a completely black head; the pronotum also black with thin yellow-brown lateral margins and rounded anterior angles, obtuse posterior, and with a surface covered with both fine and larger punctures; elytra pale brown or yellowish with a variable and usually obscure darker marking, and punctured striae. The other species is Volinus sticticus, which is primarily a woodland beetle most frequently found on horse dung. They are smaller, averaging around 5mm, distinct among the species with patterned elytra, in having glabrous (hairless) pronotal margins; head smooth and finely punctured with a yellowish-brown patch in front of the eyes on both sides; pronotum finely punctured, black with the lateral margins and anterior angles yellowish-brown; elytra glabrous, again yellowish-brown with characteristic dark markings, and with narrow punctured striae.

A further small subfamily Aegialiinae includes just three species of dung beetle that are associated with decaying vegetation in dry, sandy areas. All are local, mainly coastal, scarce or rare and, as far as I can ascertain, are not likely to be encountered in my area.

Updated, Jan.24 (v.2)