especially in South America, have adopted

a carrion diet, and a few live in ant nests

notes

Scientists use dung beetle populations

to learn about the ecology of an area,

especially in the tropics. They are easy to

attract (the bait is freely available), relatively

easy to identify, and large diverse

populations indicate a healthy mammal

fauna. DNA from scarab guts can help

show what mammals live in an area

above | Sulcophanaeus imperator

An impressive horned male of the

South American Emperor Dung

Beetle, a “rainbow scarab” that feeds

mainly on carrion.

opposite | Kheper nigroaeneus One

of the common dung beetles of the

African savannah, here with a ball

of fresh dung.

right | Onthophagus taurus This

European species demonstrates the

large, backward-curved horns that

are only found in the male.