A small black beetle that rolls dung balls into underground brood chambers. They're essential pasture-cleaning agents — without them, livestock dung accumulates rapidly.

Also called: Tumblebug (folk; for ball-rolling species)

Native status: Native; multiple US species

§ Quick facts

SizeBody 1.0–2.5 cm
Weight~0.5 g
LifespanAdults 1–3 years
OrderColeoptera
FamilyScarabaeidae

§ Encyclopedia

Onthophagus hecate, the scooped scarab, is a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae.

Source: Wikipedia — Onthophagus hecate Licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0

§ Identification

Field marks. Stout black or dark brown beetle with hard wing covers; clubbed antennae; spiny digging legs.

Similar species. Multiple US dung beetle species (Aphodius, Onthophagus, Phanaeus); expert ID often required.

Voice. Some species stridulate.

§ Diet & behavior

Diet. Mammal dung (especially deer, cattle, horses); adults and larvae both feed on dung.

Behavior. Among the most ecologically important North American insects despite being unappreciated. A single cattle pasture can support 20+ native dung beetle species, processing tonnes of manure per hectare per year and dramatically reducing fly populations, parasite transmission, and pasture nutrient runoff. North American dung beetles have declined significantly with the introduction of ivermectin and other livestock parasiticides that kill larvae developing in treated animals' dung.

§ Range

Eastern US

§ Habitat

Pastures, fields, woodlands

§ Threats

Veterinary parasiticides (ivermectin) toxic to dung beetles, pasture conversion, pesticide drift.

§ Conservation status

According to the IUCN Red List, the common eastern dung beetle is currently classified as Least Concern.

§ What helps

Use less-toxic alternatives to ivermectin. Maintain native pastures. Skip pesticides.

Support our work More ways to help

§ Further reading

§ Sources cited

  • Xerces Society
  • USDA Agricultural Research Service
  • BugGuide