michaelFeb 19

17-Feb-2026
How #forest conversion can harm #dungBeetles

"conversion" meaning: by deliberately creating canopy openings and enriching deadwood, the conditions of natural forests are to be imitated. These measures are considered positive for #biodiversity as they create habitats for many plants and animals.

https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1116767
#science #ecology #conservation

How forest conversion can harm dung beetles

Researchers at the University of Würzburg have shown that dung beetles suffer in canopy openings that have been deliberately created to promote biodiversity. Rising temperatures are significantly exacerbating the problem.

EurekAlert!
Stefan F. WirthFeb 9

RE: https://mastodon.green/@plazi_species/116022519007902519

Beetles of the genus #Cheironitis (#Scarabaeinae) are characterized by a strikingly #robust #morphology in the #adults, while the larvae usually resemble cockchafer grubs. These are #dungbeetles that exhibit #broodcare. They are widespread in #arid regions of the #Palearctic and #Afrotropical regions. YuHeng Wang et al. (2025) described, i.a., the new species C. #aiweiae from #ShirenGou (Xinjiang Uygur). #Biodiversityresearch © this text #StefanFWirth

Plazi SpeciesOct 24

#NewSpecies!
New scarab beetle from #honduras just snuck in:

Phanaeus lempira

Treatment: https://treatment.plazi.org/id/11E2387E-69E4-5880-B510-854B2DA2D54E
Publication: https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.1255.150586
#ZooKeys #PhanaeusLempira

#FAIRdata
#science #OA #openaccess #biology #taxonomy #ecology #biodiversity #nature #wildlife #conservation #animals #invertebrates #entomology #insects #coleoptera #beetles #bugs #scarabs #dungbeetles #rainbowscarabs

SFO Museum's Instagram BotAug 5, 2025
"Dung beetles, June bugs, chafers, and scarabs all belong to the beetle family Scarabaeidae. They all have lamellate antennae, which means the ends of their antennae can spread like fingers. Goliath beetles are the largest insects on Earth in terms of body mass. Some species, such as rose beetles and chafers, can be abundant pests in gardens, feeding on roots as larvae and on leaves and flowers as adults. Dung beetles and other detritivores are responsible for recycling nutrients and preventing animal waste from building up and breeding pest flies. In places where cows and other large mammals are not native, dung beetles have been purposely introduced to help control their waste. See “The Intriguing World of Insects” on display, pre-security, in the International Terminal. http://bit.ly/IntriguingInsects" This was posted to our Instagram account on August 15, 2019 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729356197/
Albert CardonaJun 15, 2025

Marie Dacke, professor of sensory biology at Lund University:

"How does a dung beetle find its way around?" In the dark, and while pushing a giant ball of dung.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4La-SpQsk84

#entomology #DungBeetles #beetles

Dung beetles’ navigational skills offer potential for robots of the future

YouTube
Sand Hill ThicketJun 8, 2025

🤎🪲💩🪲🤎

#DungBeetles #Nature #SoilFertility #NutrientCycle

📽🎬
https://youtube.com/shorts/k-q8Ob4cmDY

Alex WildJun 3, 2025
Dung beetles are such handsome animals. Here’s a female Texas rainbow scarab, Phanaeus texensis. It is not rainbow colored like its congeners, but I’m not complaining.
#insects #phanaeus #dungbeetles .
SFO Museum's Instagram BotFeb 4, 2025
"Dung beetles, June bugs, chafers, and scarabs all belong to the beetle family Scarabaeidae. They all have lamellate antennae, which means the ends of their antennae can spread like fingers. Goliath beetles are the largest insects on Earth in terms of body mass. Some species, such as rose beetles and chafers, can be abundant pests in gardens, feeding on roots as larvae and on leaves and flowers as adults. Dung beetles and other detritivores are responsible for recycling nutrients and preventing animal waste from building up and breeding pest flies. In places where cows and other large mammals are not native, dung beetles have been purposely introduced to help control their waste. See “The Intriguing World of Insects” on display, pre-security, in the International Terminal. http://bit.ly/IntriguingInsects" This was posted to our Instagram account on August 15, 2019 – https://millsfield.sfomuseum.org/instagram/1729356209/
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Sally-Ann Spence FRES FLSNov 14, 2024
Hello 👋 my name is Sally-Ann Spence. I am an entomologist who specialises in #DungBeetles & the habitat they live in.
Sally-Ann Spence FRES FLSNov 14, 2024
“moving towards a food system powered by biology rather than by chemistry,” Andy Cato @wildfarmed.
It’s been several years since I last surveyed #DungBeetles on what’s now Andy’s farm & it’s great to have that baseline data for a comparison.
This year has been a good one the Dor beetles, (Geotrupidae) & fantastic to see so many active in Andy’s cow dung.
Good quality dung & an abundance of dung beetles makes an entomologist very happy! 🐂💩🪲👍
#Carbon #SoilHealth #biodiversity #Animalhealth