Egg-shaped dung beetle

Egg-shaped dung beetle
	Egg-shaped dung beetle ( Onthophagus ovatus )
Systematics
Family :	Scarab beetle (Scarabaeidae)
Subfamily :	Scarabaeinae
Tribe :	Onthophagini
Genre :	Onthophagus
Subgenus :	Palaeonthophagus
Type :	Egg-shaped dung beetle
Scientific name
	Onthophagus ovatus
	( Linnaeus , 1767)

The egg-shaped Kotkäfer ( Onthophagus ovatus ) is a beetle from the family of scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) and the subfamily Scarabaeinae .

features

The beetles reach a size of 4–6 mm. They are oval in shape and colored matt black. The front corners of the pronotum are rounded. Stripes of rows of colons from which light hairs grow run across the wing covers .

Occurrence and way of life

The species occurs in the Palearctic . It is widespread in Europe, but appears to be absent in the British Isles. In the east their distribution area extends over Asia Minor to Central Asia . The beetles are often found on the edges of forests, on paths and on ruderal areas. They are occasionally found in the underground nesting holes of moles and other mammals.

The coprophage beetles feed on different types of droppings, but mainly on sheep droppings. They also eat carrion and detritus . The adult beetles overwinter. They are usually seen from April to June. The next generation then appears in October and November.

Similar species

Onthophagus joannae - upper side more black-brown and more shiny. The pronotum anterior edges of both species differ.
Onthophagus ruficapillatus - with a strongly raised clypeus that is bulged on the sides.

Taxonomy

The following synonyms can be found in the literature :

Onthophagus fucatrus Mulsant , 1842
Onthophagus subaenescens Goidanich , 1928
Onthophagus subaeneus Ménetriés , 1832

Web links

Commons : Egg-shaped dung beetle (Onthophagus ovatus) - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files

www.kerbtier.de - Photo

Individual evidence

↑ ^a ^b ^c European beetles - Onthophagus . coleo-net.de. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
↑ Karel Hurka: Beetles of the Czech and Slovak Republics . Kabourek, Zlin 2005, ISBN 80-86447-11-1 , p. 92.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Jiři Zahradnik, Irmgard Jung, Dieter Jung et al .: Käfer of Central and Northwestern Europe . Parey Berlin 1985, ISBN 3-490-27118-1 .
^ Onthophagus ovatus in Fauna Europaea. Retrieved January 20, 2018.
↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d Klaus Koch: The Beetles of Central Europe - Ecology - Volume 2 . Goecke & Evers Verlag, Krefeld, 1989, ISBN 3-87263-040-7 , p. 354.
↑ Eckehard Rößner: On the morphology and distribution of Onthophagus ovatus (LINNÉ) and O. joannae GOLJAN (Col., Scarabaeidae) (PDF, 2.0 MB) Entomologische Nachrichten undberichte , 36, 1992/2. Pp. 122-143. Retrieved January 20, 2018.

^ Onthophagus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1767) . biolib.cz. Retrieved January 20, 2018.

[coleo-net-1] European beetles - Onthophagus . coleo-net.de. Retrieved January 20, 2018.

[hurka-2] Karel Hurka: Beetles of the Czech and Slovak Republics . Kabourek, Zlin 2005, ISBN 80-86447-11-1 , p. 92.

[zahradnik-3] ↑ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Jiři Zahradnik, Irmgard Jung, Dieter Jung et al .: Käfer of Central and Northwestern Europe . Parey Berlin 1985, ISBN 3-490-27118-1 .

[fauna-eu-4] Onthophagus ovatus in Fauna Europaea. Retrieved January 20, 2018.

[Koch-5] Klaus Koch: The Beetles of Central Europe - Ecology - Volume 2 . Goecke & Evers Verlag, Krefeld, 1989, ISBN 3-87263-040-7 , p. 354.

[roessner-6] Eckehard Rößner: On the morphology and distribution of Onthophagus ovatus (LINNÉ) and O. joannae GOLJAN (Col., Scarabaeidae) (PDF, 2.0 MB) Entomologische Nachrichten undberichte , 36, 1992/2. Pp. 122-143. Retrieved January 20, 2018.

[biolib-7] Onthophagus ovatus (Linnaeus, 1767) . biolib.cz. Retrieved January 20, 2018.