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Home » Guide » Arthropods (Arthropoda) » Hexapods (Hexapoda) » Insects (Insecta) » Beetles (Coleoptera) » Polyphaga » Scarabaeoidea » Scarab Beetles (Scarabaeidae) » Dung Beetles (Scarabaeinae) » Coprini » Copris » Small Black Dung Beetle (Copris minutus)
Photo#93153
Dung Beetle - Copris minutus
Copyright © 2007 Arlene Ripley

Dung Beetle - Copris minutus
Calvert County, Maryland, USA
January 14, 2007
Size: about 1 cm
I think this is a Stag Beetle but not sure which one (as usual).
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Contributed by Arlene Ripley on 19 January, 2007 - 9:08pm
Last updated 20 January, 2007 - 6:43pm

No
Look for giant mandibles (for males) rather than a big horn. This looks like a large dung beetle to me. Try this one.
… Jim McClarin, 19 January, 2007 - 9:53pm login or register to post comments

 
Thanks...
I see I was wrong in jumping to that conclusion (no surprise--I don't know much about beetles). The photo of this beetle got me on the wrong track. Thank to both of you for your help.
… Arlene Ripley, 20 January, 2007 - 6:45pm login or register to post comments

 
Ha, ha!
You found the one exception, on this continent anyway. I didn't think one would be showing up in Maryland though.

One tip: Whenever you see a head like this one's that is shaped something like a shovel blade, you can be pretty sure it's a dung beetle. If you ever have the opportunity (and the stomach) to watch one at work, you will see how they use this broad, flat head to move dung around and to dig down into the earth where they will bury a gob of it. The horn is only on males and they use it to joust with each other for the right to mate a female.
… Jim McClarin, 20 January, 2007 - 9:40pm login or register to post comments

 
Yes
Dung beetle. It is in the genus Copris, probably Copris minutus. See here.
… Brad Barnd, 19 January, 2007 - 10:33pm login or register to post comments

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