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

Onthophagus ferox, commonly known as the Western Dung Beetle, is an Australian native dung beetle. Its main distribution is Western Australia, both south and north of Perth, with observations in regions of Port Denison, Geraldton, Kalbarri, Carnavon and Broome. There are significant observations of the OF down south along and inland from Manudrah, Bunbury, Albany and Esperance. There are also observations in Victoria, South Australia and a single sighting in Queensland.2

Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Juanita
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Inglis
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Gingin Brook Rd, Neergabby WA © Donna Juanita
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Inglis
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Juanita
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Inglis
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Juanita
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Inglis
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Juanita
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Inglis
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Juanita
Onthophagus ferox (Western Dung Beetle), Neergabby WA © Donna Inglis

  • Scientific classification
  • Kingdom: Animalia
  • Phylum: Arthropoda
  • Subphylum: Hexapoda
  • Class: Insecta
  • Informal: Pterygotes
  • Order: Coleoptera
  • Suborder: Polyphaga
  • Superfamily: Scarabaeoidea
  • Family: Scarabaeidae
  • Subfamily: Scarabaeinae
  • Tribe: Onthophagini
  • Genus: Onthophagus
  • Species: Onthophagus ferox

Footnote & References

  1. Onthophagus ferox, Photographs © Donna Inglis
  2. Onthophagus ferox Harold, 1867, Western Dung Beetle, Atlas of Living Australia, https://bie.ala.org.au/species/https://biodiversity.org.au/afd/taxa/3ad08ff9-e24f-4234-8a57-33c045caff1a

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

ScarabaeidaeScarabaeinae (Dung Beetles)

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