Diet

• Adults: Primarily feed on dung, especially that of mammals. Some species also use carrion, fungi, rotting fruit or other decaying organic material.

• Larvae: Usually feed on the dung or other organic material stored by the adults.

• Many species collect dung and construct it into balls, masses or underground chambers that serve as both food and breeding sites.

Range

• Scarabaeinae is a large and widespread subfamily of scarab beetles, occurring on every continent except Antarctica.

• Tropical regions support especially high diversity, and Mexico has a rich dung-beetle fauna.

• Around Zihuatanejo, Scarabaeinae are frequently encountered, particularly during the rainy season when warm temperatures and abundant mammal activity provide ideal conditions.

• Different species may be active during the day, at dusk or at night, so dung beetles can be encountered throughout much of the day.

Habitat

• Found in tropical dry forest, tropical deciduous forest, woodland, grassland, pasture, agricultural areas and gardens.

• Around Zihuatanejo, look near animal dung, livestock areas, trails used by mammals and patches of forest with abundant wildlife.

• Many species are attracted to fresh dung, sometimes arriving within minutes of it being deposited.

• During the dry season, activity decreases in many species, while the onset of rainfall can produce a dramatic increase in beetle activity.

Size

• Adult length: approximately 3–30 mm (0.12–1.2 in), depending on species.

• Bodies are generally compact, oval and heavily built.

• Colouration ranges from black and brown to metallic green, blue, bronze or copper.

• Some species have prominent horns, projections or sculpturing, particularly males.