Dung Beetle
Catharsius molossus
A craftsman who rolls dung into a cradle
This dung beetle is a large species common in China, glossy jet-black all over; males bear a backward-curving head horn (cephalic horn) used in combat. It burrows beneath cattle and pig dung, rolling it into balls for its larvae to feed on, and speeds dung breakdown and nutrient return to pasture soil.
Key figures
- Length
- About 22–32 mm; rounded body, glossy jet-black all over
- Lifespan
- Adults live for several months; larvae complete development in an underground dung chamber and pupate on the spot
- Habitat
- Digs burrows beneath livestock dung on pastures, farmland and forest edges
- Diet
- Both adults and larvae feed on mammal dung; larvae depend especially on the nutrients in the dung ball
- Nest-building
- Uses the head horn to dig burrows, dragging dung deep underground and shaping it into a brood ball
- Decomposition
- Burying dung in burrows significantly speeds up dung breakdown and nutrient return to pasture soil
Life cycle
Egg (laid inside an underground dung ball) → Larva (feeds and develops inside the dung ball) → Pupa → Adult
Ecological role
As one of the common dung beetles of pastures and forest edges, this species digs burrows to bury surface dung quickly underground, greatly speeding up decomposition and nutrient return to the soil — an indispensable scavenger in grassland ecosystems.
Did you know
Before laying, the female shapes the dung ball until extremely smooth and compact — both nursery and entire food supply, so the hatched larva never has to leave it to complete development.
Range
Most of China south of the Yellow River, and Southeast Asia
Status
Common; one of the source insects for the traditional Chinese medicine “qiang lang” (dung beetle)
Anatomy
- Head Horn — A backward-curving horn on the male’s head, used to loosen soil while digging and to lever opponents aside in fights
- Clypeus — The front of the head shield (clypeus) is flattened and broadened like a shovel — the beetle’s main tool for cutting dung and scooping soil
- Foreleg — The outer edge of the shin bears rake-like teeth, used to gather dung and kick soil backward while digging
- Elytra — The wing cases (elytra) are smooth and jet-black, covering the folded membranous hindwings beneath
- Compound Eye — Relatively small; its burrowing lifestyle relies more on smell and touch than on sight
- Pronotum — The plate behind the head (pronotum) is broad and domed; males brace it against a rival’s horn when pushing in combat
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