Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles)Euoniticellus pallipes (Southern Sandy Dung Beetle) Onthophagus dandalu (Dung Beetle) Onthophagus declivis (Dung Beetle) Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle)
Euoniticellus pallipes, commonly known as the Southern Sandy Dung Beetle), is one of four Euoniticellus species introduced to Australia to assist with tackling the dung produced cattle and other farm animals.
There were three different strains of the beetle imported by CSIRO from their native ranges in Iran (strain 1) and Turkey (strains 2 and 3). Strain 1 was first released in 1977 in Western Australia with subsequent releases in South Australia and New South Wales of the same year. The Turkish strains were both released in Western Australia in 1978. Euoniticellus pallipes is active from spring through to autumn and have known to be established in New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia.
Euoniticellus pallipes range in size from 9-12 mm in length. They are usually a light brown colour with darker markings on the pronotum and elytra. Not to be confused with Euoniticellus africanus, the male Euoniticellus pallipes have a ridge between the eyes that possess a slight curve (much flatter than the V-shaped ridge in E. africanus), while female Euoniticellus pallipes have a short, distinctly raised ridge projecting from the head.
- Scientific classification
- Kingdom: Animalia
- Phylum: Arthropoda
- Subphylum: Hexapoda
- Class: Insecta
- Informal: Pterygotes
- Order: Coleoptera
- Suborder: Polyphaga
- Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
- Family: Scarabaeidae
- Subfamily: Scarabaeinae
- Tribe: Oniticellini
- Genus: Euoniticellus
- Species: Euoniticellus pallipes
Footnote & References
- Euoniticellus pallipes, Photographs © Donna Inglis
- Euoniticellus pallipes, donna391, iNaturalistAU, https://inaturalist.ala.org.au/observations/195826480
- Euoniticellus pallipes (Fabricius, 1781), Southern Sandy Dung Beetle, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/37be4f00-f299-4d5c-ab68-d3fefa879ea7
- Euoniticellus pallipes (introduced) – Agriculture Victoria, https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/816546/10-E-pallipes.pdf
- Euoniticellus pallipes, Dung Beetle Species, Dung Beetles in the South West of Western Australia, Warren Catchments Council, https://www.dungbeetlessouthwest.org.au/euonticellu-pallipes
- Beetles with benefits, Dung Beetle, Ecosystem Engineers, https://www.dungbeetles.com.au/
Scarabaeinae (Dung Beetles)Euoniticellus pallipes (Southern Sandy Dung Beetle) Onthophagus dandalu (Dung Beetle) Onthophagus declivis (Dung Beetle) Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle)
ScarabaeidaeScarabaeinae (Dung Beetles)
ColeopteraAmarygmus sp Anoplognathus sp Aphanestes gymnopleura Buprestidae Cerambycidae Coleoptera (Beetles) Curculionidae Digitonthophagus gazella Dung Beetle Eretes australis Helea scaphiformis Johannica gemellata (Pandorea Leaf Beetle) Ladybirds (Beetles) Lepidiota Lucanidae Neospades sp Lycidae Omorgus Paropsine Beetle Paropsisterna sp Pittosporum Leaf Beetle (Lamprolina impressicollis) Protaetia fusca Pterohelaeus sp Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae Xylophilostenus octophyllus
InsectsBees Beetles Blattodea Butterflies Coleoptera Cicada Crabronidae Diptera Dragonflies & Damselflies Formicidae Hemiptera Heteroptera (True Bugs) Mango Planthopper Moths Orthoptera Orthopteroid Processionary Caterpillar Stink Bugs, Shield Bugs and Allies Syrphidae Wasps Water Scorpion (Laccotrephes tristis) Witchetty Grub