Genus Onthophagus

Classification · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Explanation of Names · Numbers · Size · Identification · Life Cycle · Works Cited

Onthophagus taurus, major male - Onthophagus taurus - male

Small but fascinating - Onthophagus hecate - male

colorful dung beetle - Onthophagus orpheus - female

Onthophagus pennsylvanicus Harold - Onthophagus pennsylvanicus

Classification

Kingdom Animalia (Animals)

Phylum Arthropoda (Arthropods)

Subphylum Hexapoda (Hexapods)

Class Insecta (Insects)

Order Coleoptera (Beetles)

Suborder Polyphaga

Superfamily Scarabaeoidea

Family Scarabaeidae (Scarab Beetles)

Subfamily Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles)

Tribe Onthophagini

Genus Onthophagus

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

revised in (1); updates in (2)

Explanation of Names

Onthophagus Latreille 1802

'dung-eater'

Numbers

37 spp. in our area, 130 in the New World, >1500 total(3) ―the largest genus of the family

Size

our spp. 2.5―8.0 mm(3)

Identification

males often with variously adorned heads/pronota

key to spp. in (1)

Life Cycle

Adults dig a tunnel under the dung supply for the larvae; some species utilize carrion or fungi(4)

Works Cited

1.	Scarab beetles of the genus Onthophagus Latreille north of Mexico (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Howden H.F., Cartwright O.L. 1963. Proc. U.S. Nat. Mus. 114: 1-135.

2.	The establishment of the Onthophagus anthracinus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) species complex and the description of a new species Arriaga-Jiménez A., Escobar-Hernández F., Rös M., Kohlmann B. 2020. Can. Entomol. 152: 1-17.

3.	The Scarabaeoid Beetles of Nebraska Brett C. Ratcliffe & M.J. Paulsen. 2008. University of Nebraska State Museum, Vol 22, 570 pp.

4.	Scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) of South Carolina Phillip J. Harpootlian. 2001. Clemson University Public Service.

Contributed by Cotinis on 6 May, 2004 - 6:53pm
Additional contributions by Phillip Harpootlian, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, Matt Bertone, v belov
Last updated 8 September, 2023 - 5:03pm

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