Dung Beetle

Scarabaeidae

Content coming soon for this insect guide.

Insect Profile

Beneficial Rating

+5 Beneficial

Active Months

JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec

US Distribution

SoutheastMidwestNortheast

Habitat Preferences

desertsgrasslandssavannasfarmlandsforests

Taxonomic Group

Beetle

Order

Coleoptera

Family

Scarabaeidae

Lifecycle

Dung beetles undergo a complete metamorphosis with four distinct life stages: egg, larva, pupa, and adult. The life cycle begins when a female lays eggs in a dung pat or in a specially constructed brood ball made of dung. The eggs hatch into C-shaped larvae, or grubs, which feed on the surrounding dung. The larval stage can last from one to four weeks. Following this, the larva enters the pupal stage, a non-feeding, transitional phase that can last from a few weeks to several months. Finally, the adult beetle emerges. The entire life cycle can take anywhere from six months to a year to complete, and some species may have two generations per year. There are three main types of dung beetles based on their nesting behavior: 'rollers' who roll dung into balls and bury them away from the original pat, 'tunnelers' who burrow underneath the pat and pull dung down into their tunnels, and 'dwellers' who live and reproduce within the dung pat itself.

Overwintering Strategy

Dung beetles typically overwinter in the soil as either pupae or adults. Some species can delay their emergence to coincide with favorable environmental conditions. In milder climates, some species may remain active year-round.

Native Range

Worldwide

Attracted By

dung of herbivores and omnivores

Repelled By

ivermectinchemical pesticides

Companion Planting

Dung beetles are highly beneficial to the garden and pasture ecosystem. Their tunneling behavior aerates the soil and improves water infiltration. By burying dung, they sequester nutrients in the root zone of plants, making them more available and reducing nutrient runoff. This process enhances soil fertility and benefits all plants in the vicinity. They also play a role in seed dispersal, as some seeds can pass through an herbivore’s digestive system and be buried by the beetles, leading to new plant growth.