How Do You Identify A Black Dung Beetle With A Horn?
Black dung beetles with horns belong to the Coleoptera order and the Scarabaeinae subfamily. These particular dung beetles are related to the ancient Egyptian scarab, Scarabaeus sacer Linnaeus. Most species of dung beetles are from Africa, but scientists introduced the black-horned dung beetle into the United States as a beneficial agricultural insect. If you find a black beetle with a horn feeding on or near animal droppings, you’ve likely found a Coleoptera Scarabaeinae. You can further confirm the identification of the black dung beetle by studying it under a magnifying glass. Step 1 Look for the beetle’s three prominent body sections–the large, winged hind area, the hard-shelled thorax and the smaller, flattened head that sprouts the horn. The Scarabaeinae is about one half to one inch in length. Step 2 Identify the beetle’s forewings (called “elytra”), which are thick and hard. The armored forewings are covered in vertical ridges. Step 3 Look beneath the elytra to find the thin,
