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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Scarabaeoidea » Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeidae) » Dung Beetles (Scarabaeinae) » Onthophagini » Digitonthophagus » Gazelle Scarab (Digitonthophagus gazella)

Species Digitonthophagus gazella - Gazelle Scarab

Classification · Other Common Names · Synonyms and other taxonomic changes · Size · Identification · Range · Season · Life Cycle · Print References · Internet References · Works Cited

Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius) - Digitonthophagus gazella - female

Digitonthophagus gazella male.... - Digitonthophagus gazella - male

Digitonthophagus gazella? - Digitonthophagus gazella - male

Scarabaeidae --? - Digitonthophagus gazella

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 Digitonthophagus

Species gazella (Gazelle Scarab)

Other Common Names

Brown Dung Beetle

Synonyms and other taxonomic changes

Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius)

Orig. Comb: Scarabaeus gazella Fabricius 1787

Syn: Onthophagus gazella (Fabricius)

Size

10-13 mm

Identification

brown elytra often has cloudy markings, male with two short horns.

Distinctive femora:

♀

♂

Range

se US to AZ (AZ-FL-NC-OK) / Pantropical - Map (GBIF)

Of Indoafrican origin, intentionally introduced into Texas for dung control in the 1970, and it's now, perhaps, the most widespread dung beetle in tropical and subtropical pastures. (Noriega et al. 2010)

uncommon north of South Carolina (1)

Season

Apr-Oct (BG data)

Life Cycle

Larvae feed on dung.

Pupa: ♂

Print References

Fincher, G.T., T.B. Stewart & J.S. Hunter III. 1983. The 1981 distribution of Onthophagus gazella Fabricius from releases in Texas and Onthophagus taurus Schreber from an unknown release in Florida (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). The Coleopterists Bulletin, 37: 159-163.

Noriega, J.A., F.G. Horgan, T.H. Larsen & G. Valencia. 2010. Records of an invasive dung beetle species, Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius, 1787) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), in Peru. Acta Zoológica Mexicana (n.s.) 26(2): 451-456. Full PDF

Mantissa Insectorum p.377 - Fabricius' original description (in Latin)

Internet References

A Field Guide to Common Texas Insects

Works Cited

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

Contributed by Cotinis on 25 August, 2004 - 11:34pm
Additional contributions by Beatriz Moisset, Phillip Harpootlian, Chuck Entz, Mike Quinn, Robert H. Biagi
Last updated 5 October, 2024 - 6:18am

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