Insect
Onthophagus nigriventris
Onthophagus nigriventrisAlso known as Coastal Dung Beetle
Onthophagus nigriventris is a compact tunneling dung beetle native to East Africa and deliberately introduced across coastal eastern Australia to control cattle dung and pasture pests. Adults locate fresh herbivore droppings by scent, rapidly excavating vertical brood burrows underneath pats to bury nutrient-rich dung balls. By cycling organic matter and aerating soil layers, these industrious beetles play a crucial role in reducing bush fly breeding sites and improving pasture soil health.
TunnelingDecomposerSubtropical
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—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCattle Dung, Herbivore Droppings, Soil Microbes
Predators
- Cane Toad
- Pied Currawong
- Insectivorous Lizards
ThreatsBroad-spectrum livestock insecticides and severe soil drying
HabitatsSubtropical pastures, coastal grasslands, and open woodlands
Life span1–2 years
Classification
- FamilyScarabaeidae
- SpeciesOnthophagus nigriventris
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Observation: Look beneath moist, fresh cattle dung pats in warm coastal pastures during early morning.
- Handling: Gently scoop into a clear container to inspect the glossy body, then return to soil promptly.
Same Genus (c) Don Loarie, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Don Loarie · cc-by
Close Relative (c) Meghan Cassidy, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Meghan Cassidy · cc-by-sa
Same Family (c) Saryu Mae 前 朝琉, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Saryu Mae 前 朝琉 · cc-by
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