Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles)Dung Beetles Index Digitonthophagus gazella Euoniticellus intermedius (Northern Sandy Dung Beetle) Euoniticellus pallipes (Southern Sandy Dung Beetle) Onitis viridulus Onthophagus australis Onthophagus dandalu (Dung Beetle) Onthophagus declivis (Dung Beetle) Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle) Onthophagus neostenocerus

— see Dung Beetles

Whilst Australia has more than 500 species of native dung beetles, there have been over 40 introduced species of dung beetles into Australia, from places that include Hawaii, Africa and southern Europe. Of these, 23 species were successfully established in Australia, in response to needs in the agricultural sector. You can read more about some of these species on our Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles) section.

Check out our some of our currently listed dung beetles:

Dung Beetle (Onthophagus dandalu), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Dung Beetle
Dung Beetle (Onthophagus dandalu), Ballandean QLD © Marc Newman
Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles)n
Digitonthophagus gazella, Alice Springs NT
Digitonthophagus gazella
Euoniticellus intermedius (Northern Sandy Dung Beetle), Alice Springs NT
Euoniticellus intermedius (Northern Sandy Dung Beetle)
Euoniticellus pallipes (Southern Sandy Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Inglis
Euoniticellus pallipes (Southern Sandy Dung Beetle)
Onitis viridulus (Emerald Dung Beetle), Petrie QLD © Tony Eales
Onitis viridulus (Emerald Dung Beetle)
Onthophagus australis, Belair SA © Marianne Broug
Onthophagus australis (Southern Dung Beetle)
Dung Beetle (Onthophagus dandalu), Roma QLD © Di Bickers
Onthophagus dandalu (Dung Beetle)
Onthophagus declivis (Declivis Dung Beetle), Wallaga Lake NSW © Deb Taylor
Onthophagus declivis (Declivis Dung Beetle)
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Inglis
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle)
Onthophagus neostenocerus, Mount Nebo QLD © Tony Eales
Onthophagus neostenocerus


  • Scientific classification
  • Domain: Eukaryota
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Subclass: Pterygota
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Infraorder: Scarabaeiformia
  • Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
  • Family: Scarabaeidae
  • Subfamily: Scarabaeinae
  • Tribe:
    • Canthonini
    • Coprini
    • Oniticellini
    • Onitini
    • Onthophagini
    • Scarabaeini

Footnote & References

  1. Dung beetles in Australia, National Museum Australia, https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/dung-beetles-in-australia
  2. Dung beetle program, by Colin Ward, 21 February 2011, CSIROpedia, https://csiropedia.csiro.au/dung-beetle-program/
  3. Dung Beetles, Australian Museum, https://australian.museum/learn/animals/insects/dung-beetles/
  4. Small Dung Beetles (Subfamily Aphodiinae), iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/taxa/51977-Aphodiinae
  5. Dung Beetles, Land for Wildlife (South East Queensland), https://www.lfwseq.org.au/dung-beetles/

Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles)Dung Beetles Index Digitonthophagus gazella Euoniticellus intermedius (Northern Sandy Dung Beetle) Euoniticellus pallipes (Southern Sandy Dung Beetle) Onitis viridulus Onthophagus australis Onthophagus dandalu (Dung Beetle) Onthophagus declivis (Dung Beetle) Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle) Onthophagus neostenocerus

ColeopteraColeoptera Index Amarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Blackburnium cavicolle Buprestidae Carphurus Cerambycidae Chalcopteroides (Chalcopterus Beetle) Chrysomelidae (Leaf Beetles) Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Hydrophilus Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Neospades sp Lycidae Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Phorticosomus sp Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus

InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub