Are there dung beetles in South Africa?
Are there dung beetles in South Africa?
In Africa, south of the Sahara, there are more than 2,000 species of dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae. Southern Africa alone has 780 species, of which some 150 species may be found in one locality (Scholtz and de Villiers 1983; Doube 1987).
Are there dung beetles in Africa?
In and around Southern Africa the Dung Beetles (sub-family scarabaeidae) all utilise faeces for sustenance and egg development. Dung Beetles can be split into four major groupings depending on their habits; Endocoprids are dung beetles that burrow and nest ‘in situ’ when fresh dung is discovered.
Where are dung beetles found?
Dung beetles are found worldwide, on every continent except Antarctica. They live in habitats that range from desert to forest. The rollers shape pieces of dung into balls and roll them away from the pile. They bury their ball to either munch on later or to use as a place to lay their eggs.
How many dung beetles are there in South Africa?
There are approximately 780 species of Dung Beetle in South Africa alone. These beetles vary in size from minuscule beetles at 5mm to large species at 50mm. The lifespan of Dung Beetles is roughly 2 years.
What is the rarest dung beetle?
Circellium bacchus
While there are nearly 800 species of dung beetle in South Africa, Circellium bacchus—the flightless dung beetle—is a rare subspecies endemic only to a few small areas in the southeastern part of the country.
How big is an African dung beetle?
0.2 to about 1.2 inches
Dung beetles are usually round with short wing covers (elytra) that expose the end of the abdomen. They vary in size from 5 to 30 mm (0.2 to about 1.2 inches) and are usually dark in colour, although some have a metallic lustre. In many species, there is a long, curved horn on the top of the male’s head.
Can you keep a dung beetle as a pet?
Rainbow dung beetles are beautiful creatures with a shiny metallic color. They are great entry-level pets for anyone who wants to start keeping beetles as pets.
Are dung beetles good for your lawn?
Lady beetles are happy to gobble up the aphids on your plants. And dung beetles are happy to process dung. They bury it, consume it and transform it into a soil amendment. Dung beetles are found in a number of insect families and have diverse habits.