Scarabaeinae

Scarabaeinae
Temporal range: 53–0 Ma[1]
Copris lunaris (Coprini) ♀
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Domain: Eukaryota
Kingdom: Animalia
Phylum: Arthropoda
Class: Insecta
Order: Coleoptera
Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Scarabaeinae
Latreille, 1802
Tribes
Synonyms

Coprinae

The scarab beetle subfamily Scarabaeinae consists of species collectively called true dung beetles (there are also dung beetles in other subfamilies and families). Most of the beetles of this subfamily feed exclusively on dung. However, some may feed on decomposing matter including carrion, decaying fruits and fungi. Dung beetles can be placed into three structural guilds based on their method of dung processing namely rollers (telecoprids), dwellers (endocoprids) and tunnelers (paracoprids).[3] Dung removal and burial by dung beetles result in ecological benefits such as soil aeration and fertilization; improved nutrient cycling and uptake by plants, increase in Pasture quality, biological control of pest flies and intestinal parasites and secondary seed dispersal.[4] Well-known members include the genera Scarabaeus and Sisyphus, and Phanaeus vindex.

  1. ^ Tarasov, Sergei; Vaz-de-Mello, Fernando Z.; Krell, Frank-Thorsten; Dimitrov, Dimitar (2016). "A review and phylogeny of Scarabaeine dung beetle fossils (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae), with the description of two Canthochilum species from Dominican amber". PeerJ. 4: e1988. doi:10.7717/peerj.1988. PMC 4986599. PMID 27547512.
  2. ^ Bouchard, P.; Bousquet, Y.; Davies, A.; Alonso-Zarazaga, M.; Lawrence, J.; Lyal, C.; Newton, A.; Reid, C.; Schmitt, M.; Ślipiński, A.; Smith, A. (2011). "Family-group names in Coleoptera (Insecta)". ZooKeys (88): 1–972. doi:10.3897/zookeys.88.807. PMC 3088472. PMID 21594053.
  3. ^ Louzada, J; Lima, A; Matavelli, R; Zambaldi, L; Barlow, J (2010). "Community structure of dung beetles in Amazonian savannas: role of fire disturbance, vegetation and landscape structure". Landscape Ecology. 25 (4): 631–641. doi:10.1007/s10980-010-9448-3. S2CID 23269300.
  4. ^ Braga, R; Korasaki, V; Andresen, E; Louzada, J (2013). "Dung Beetle Community and Functions along a Habitat-Disturbance Gradient in the Amazon: A Rapid Assessment of Ecological Functions Associated to Biodiversity". PLOS ONE. 8 (2): e57786. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0057786. PMC 3583983. PMID 23460906.