Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Water, Rove, Scarab, Longhorn, Leaf and Snout Beetles (Polyphaga) » Scarab, Stag and Bess Beetles (Scarabaeoidea) » Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeidae) » Dung Beetles (Scarabaeinae) » Canthonini » Tumblebugs (Canthon) » Canthon (Canthon) vigilans (Canthon vigilans)

Species Canthon vigilans - Canthon (Canthon) vigilans

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)

Tribe Canthonini

Genus Canthon (Tumblebugs)

Species vigilans (Canthon (Canthon) vigilans)

Explanation of Names

Common name coined based on the scientific name. It seems appropriate, based on the large eyes of this species.

Size

13-20 mm

Identification

Black, note large eyes (for this genus), about half as wide as long. Clypeus (forehead) toothed. Large, up to 20 mm. Compare C. pilularis (=C. laevis), which has smaller eyes and is slightly smaller. See print references.

Range

Eastern and central United States

Habitat

Typically open areas, pastures, attracted to dung

Season

March-July (and later?) in South Carolina

Food

Adults associated with dung for breeding--unclear if they feed on it.

Life Cycle

These are dung rollers. The ball is buried and the female oviposits on it. Adults attracted to lights, which most Canthon are not. (1)

Print References

Harpootlian, p. 12--key and figs. 13-14 showing eyes compared to C. pilularis (=C. laevis), p. 14 (1)

Dillon, p. 508--life history of genus (2)

Ratcliffe, p. 104--cited by Winds of Kansas below (3)

Internet References

Winds of Kansas--quotes Ratcliffe

Great Smoky Mountains Natl. Park Scarabs--on the checlist

North Carolina State Entomology Collectin has 21 pinned.

Works Cited

1.	Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of South Carolina By Phillip J. Harpootlian

2.	A Manual of Common Beetles of Eastern North America By Dillon, Elizabeth S., and Dillon, Lawrence

3.	The scarab beetles of Nebraska By Brett Ratcliffe

Contributed by Cotinis on 15 August, 2004 - 11:50am
Additional contributions by Phillip Harpootlian
Last updated 22 October, 2007 - 9:35am

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