Scarabaeus sacer

Dung beetles show three main ecological strategies: rollers (shape dung into balls and roll it away), tunnelers (bury dung beneath or next to the pat), and dwellers (live within the dung pat). They are primarily crepuscular or nocturnal in many regions, use olfactory cues to locate dung from long distances, and perform key ecosystem services—nutrient recycling, soil aeration, seed burial and reduction of parasites and pest flies.

Reproduction centers on dung: adults prepare brood chambers (either by burying dung or placing eggs inside dung balls) where females lay eggs and provision larvae with dung. Larvae develop as grubs inside these brood masses, passing through several instars before pupating; developmental time varies with species, temperature and dung quality.

Morphologically they have compact, often convex bodies, strong, spade-like forelegs for digging, and lamellate (plate-ended) antennae for sensing odors. Many species show sexual dimorphism—males may bear horns or exaggerated structures used in contest or mate-guarding behaviors—while coloration ranges from drab brown to metallic green or patterned forms.

Dung beetles have a deep evolutionary history within Scarabaeoidea, with fossil representatives dating back tens of millions of years; they diversified alongside mammals as dung resources became available. They hold cultural significance (e.g., ancient Egyptian scarabs) and have been studied extensively for their ecology, behavior and ecosystem roles.

Many dung-beetle species remain common and widespread, but others are declining due to habitat loss, livestock management changes, widespread pesticide use (especially ivermectins that contaminate dung), declines in native large herbivores, and climate change. Conservation actions include preserving native habitats and large-herbivore populations, reducing veterinary drug residues in dung, and targeted protection or reintroduction of vulnerable species.