Insect
Onitis viridulus
Onitis viridulusThese robust tunneling dung beetles play an essential role in recycling nutrients across grasslands and savannas. Equipped with strong, spade-like forelegs, adults excavate deep vertical burrows directly beneath fresh dung pats to store brood masses for their developing larvae. Their dark bodies often reflect a faint greenish sheen under bright sunlight as they fly in search of fresh herbivore droppings.
DecomposerBurrowingIridescent
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Not EvaluatedConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXNot Evaluated — not placed on the risk ladderRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCattle dung, Buffalo dung, Grassland herbivore dung
Predators
- Ground hornbill
- Banded mongoose
- Toad
ThreatsHabitat degradation, pesticide exposure, livestock dewormer toxicity
HabitatsGrasslands, savannas, pastures
Life span1–2 years
Classification
- FamilyScarabaeidae
- SpeciesOnitis viridulus
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: Inspect the soil directly beneath fresh herbivore dung in open pastures during early morning.
- Handling: Pick up gently by the sides of the hard elytra, taking care not to squeeze the abdomen.
Food Provider (c) Bernard DUPONT, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Competitor Sarefo / CC BY-SA 3.0 · cc-by-sa
Predator (c) Wynand Uys, some rights reserved (CC BY), uploaded by Wynand Uys · cc-by
Close Relative (c) CSIRO, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
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