Flightless Dung Beetle

Afrikaans name:

Photo © bondsza - Fotolia.com

Circellium bacchus

The Flightless Dung Beetle is endemic to South Africa and even then it is restricted to a few areas.

Unlike other Dung Beetles this one cannot fly which is how it gets its common name.

The future of this beetle relies on areas with big game such as Elephant and Buffalo being protected. It mainly feeds off their dung, and uses it for laying their eggs in.

The Flightless Dung Beetle can grow to a length of just over 4 cm.

References and further reading

Wild Issue 26 - Author: - Published: 2014 - Page: 62

Pollinators, Predators and Parasites - Author: C. Scholtz, J. Scholtz, H. De Klerk - Published: 2021 - Page: 279

Pollinators, Predators and Parasites - Author: C. Scholtz, J. Scholtz, H. De Klerk - Published: 2021 - Page: 281

Field Guide to Insects of South Africa - Author: Mike Picker, Charles Griffiths and Alan Weaving - Published: 0 - Page: 212

University of Pretoria

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