Species Onthophagus taurus - Bull Headed Dung Beetle

Classification · Range · Food · Life Cycle · Remarks · Internet References

Onthophagus taurus, major male - Onthophagus taurus - male

Onthophagus taurus, minor male - Onthophagus taurus - male

Onthophagus sp. - Onthophagus taurus - female

Scarab Beetle - Onthophagus taurus - male

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga (Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles)

Superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Scarab, Stag and Bess Beetles)

Family Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)

Subfamily Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles)

Genus Onthophagus

Species taurus (Bull Headed Dung Beetle)

Range

Eastern coastal US, to New Hampshire and southern states to California

Food

Dung - generalist

Life Cycle

Females care for larvae supplying food as a brood mass. Some females practice brood parasitism.

Remarks

Introduced species.

There is marked sexual dymorphism.

Internet References

PNAS

Contributed by Lynette Schimming on 12 July, 2005 - 7:18am
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Phillip Harpootlian
Last updated 5 September, 2008 - 2:34pm

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