Identification, Images, & Information
For Insects, Spiders & Their Kin
For the United States & Canada
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Arthropods (Arthropoda)
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Insects (Insecta)
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Beetles (Coleoptera)
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Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga)
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Scarab, Stag and Bess Beetles (Scarabaeoidea)
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Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeidae)
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Dung Beetles (Scarabaeinae)
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Onthophagus
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Bull Headed Dung Beetle (Onthophagus taurus)
Species
Onthophagus taurus
- Bull Headed Dung Beetle
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