How to Identify a Black Dung Beetle With a Horn
Black dung beetles with horns belong to the Coleoptera order and the Scarabaeinae subfamily. These particular dung beetles are related to the ancient Egyptian scarab, Scarabaeus sacer Linnaeus. Most species of dung beetles are from Africa, but scientists introduced the black-horned dung beetle into the United States as a beneficial agricultural insect. If you find a black beetle with a horn feeding on or near animal droppings, you've likely found a Coleoptera Scarabaeinae. You can further confirm the identification of the black dung beetle by studying it under a magnifying glass. Does this Spark an idea?
Instructions
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Look for the beetle's three prominent body sections--the large, winged hind area, the hard-shelled thorax and the smaller, flattened head that sprouts the horn. The Scarabaeinae is about one half to one inch in length.
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Identify the beetle's forewings (called "elytra"), which are thick and hard. The armored forewings are covered in vertical ridges.
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Look beneath the elytra to find the thin, membrane-like hind wings the beetle uses to fly.
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Observe the black beetle's two shorter front legs and the four longer middle and hind legs. The black dung beetle's middle and hind legs are visibly covered in short hairs at the ends. Notice how the legs can fold up beneath the beetle when it feels it's in danger. The legs fit perfectly into indentations on the underside of the beetle's body.
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Look at the black dung beetle's mouth parts on the underside of its head with a magnifying glass. The Scarabaeinae has large, strong mouth and jaw-like parts for chewing.
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Determine whether the black dung beetle is male or female by studying the horn. Males have a long horn that curves toward the front of its head, while the female has a tubercle, a less-pronounced horn.
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Tips & Warnings
You can further distinguish a female from a male dung beetle by its size. The female Scarabaeinae is slightly larger than the male.
Two specific species of black dung beetles with horns exist: the Onthophagus gazella Fabricius and the Copris fricator, both belonging to the Scarabaeinae subfamily. Other species of dung beetles belonging to the Scarabaeinae subfamily either don't have a horn or range in colors other than black.
Don't be alarmed or attempt to get rid of black dung beetles found around your home or pasture. Dung beetles help to process and reduce animal waste, are beneficial to the environment and are not harmful to plants, animals or humans.
