Heliocopris (large dung beetles) is a genus of Scarabaeidae or scarab beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea.[2][3][4] Forty-seven of the fifty-two known species are found in Africa,[3] but a few are found in southern and southeast Asia.[5]
Heliocopris includes some of the world's largest dung beetles (their size only rivalled by certain Catharsius and Coprophanaeus), with H. anderson, H. colossus, H. dilloni, H. dominus, H. gigas and H. tyrannus reaching up to about 7cm (2.8in) long, although a more typical size for the members of this genus is 3–5cm (1.2–2.0in).[6] They are generally black or dark brown beetles where males tend to have horns on their head or pronotum, which females lack.[6] Some are associated with the dung of elephants, rhinos or hippos, but there are large variations among the species in the genus and dung from other animals, like domestic cattle or monkeys, is also used. The female lays her eggs in a tunnel she digs under the excrement.[6]
Species
The genus Heliocopris includes the following species:[7]
↑ They have also been placed in the tribe Dichotomiini, but Montreuil places them in Coprini. Montreuil, Olivier (1998). "Analyse phylogénétique et paraphylie des Coprini et Dichotomiini (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). Scénario biogéographique". Annales de la Société Entomologique de France. 34 (2): 135–148.
↑ "Heliocopris" Nomen.at, Dictionary of Common (Vernacular) Names
1 2 3 Le Tirant, S.; Limoges, R. (2017). "Collecting the planet's largest dung beetles: genus Helocopris Hope, 1837 (Coeloptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)". Scarabs. 83: 8–11.
Pokorný, Svatopluk; Zídek, Jiří and Werner, Karl (2009) Giant dung beetles of the genus Heliocopris (Scarabaeidae) Taita Publishers, Hradec Králové, Czech Republic, ISBN978-80-902734-0-5
The scarab beetle subfamily Scarabaeinae consists of species collectively called true dung beetles. Most of the beetles of this subfamily feed exclusively on dung. However, some may feed on decomposing matter including carrion, decaying fruits and fungi. Dung beetles can be placed into three structural guilds based on their method of dung processing namely rollers (telecoprids), dwellers (endocoprids) and tunnelers (paracoprids). Dung removal and burial by dung beetles result in ecological benefits such as soil aeration and fertilization; improved nutrient cycling and uptake by plants, increase in Pasture quality, biological control of pest flies and intestinal parasites and secondary seed dispersal. Well-known members include the genera Scarabaeus and Sisyphus, and Phanaeus vindex.
Anthia is a genus of the ground beetle family (Carabidae). Species of Anthia can spray a jet of formic acid up to 30 centimetres (12 in), which, if not treated, can cause blindness in animals that harass the beetles.
The Trichiini are a tribe of the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae), though historically they were often classified as a subfamily, Trichiinae. The conspicuous bee beetles (Trichius) are probably the best-known genus in Europe.
Copris is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Coprini of the scarab family. It comprises more than 250 tunnelling species and has an almost worldwide distribution.
The genus Scarabaeus consists of a number of Afro-Eurasian dung beetle species, including the "sacred scarab beetle", Scarabaeus sacer and is the namesake of the tribe Scarabaeini, the family Scarabaeidae, the superfamily Scarabaeoidea and the infraorder Scarabaeiformia. These beetles feed exclusively on dung, which they accomplish by rolling a piece of dung some distance from where it was deposited, and burying it in order to feed on it underground. They also prepare food for their larvae by excavating an underground chamber, and filling it with balls that have eggs laid in them. The growing larva feeds upon the dung ball, pupates, and eventually emerges as an adult.
Catharsius is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Coprini in the scarab family.
Colobonthophagus is a subgenus of scarab beetles in the genus Onthophagus of the family Scarabaeidae. There are more than 30 described species in Colobonthophagus. They are found in the Palaearctic and Indomalaya.
Coprophanaeus is a genus in the family Scarabaeidae. The genus is almost entirely Neotropical, with a single species, C. pluto, ranging into southernmost Texas in the United States. They are medium-sized to large beetles, with the South American C. ensifer and C. lancifer sometimes exceeding 5 cm (2 in) in length, making these two some of the largest dung beetles in the world and the largest in the Americas. They often have a horn on the head, and are typically a bright metallic color, most often blue or green, or black. These diurnal or crepuscular beetles are excellent diggers and good fliers.
Garreta is a genus of dung beetles in the scarab beetle family (Scarabaeidae). There are more than 20 described species; most are African and some are from Asia. They are generally found in fairly moist habitats.
Gymnopleurus is a genus of Scarabaeidae or dung beetles in the superfamily Scarabaeoidea.
Phanaeus, the rainbow scarabs, is a genus of true dung beetles in the family Scarabaeidae, ranging from the United States to northern Argentina, with the highest species richness in Mexico. Depending on species, they can inhabit a wide range of habitats, from tropical to temperate climates and deserts to rainforests. In those living in relatively arid places adults are primarily active during the wet season and those living in relatively cold places are primarily active during the summer. They are excellent diggers and good fliers.
Sulcophanaeus is a genus of dung beetles belonging to the family Scarabaeidae. Most species in this genus are from tropical and subtropical South America, but a few are found in Central America and Mexico, and S. carnifex is from Jamaica. Sulcophanaeus are mostly coprophagous, but some are also necrophagous. They are paracoprids, meaning that adults dig tunnels into the soil under the food source and move parts of the food source to a nest chamber where the eggs are laid, and their activity pattern varies depending on species.
Coprini is a tribe of scarab beetles, in the dung beetle subfamily (Scarabaeinae). Scholtz et al. describe them as tunnellers that are shiny black, of moderate to large size and with a strongly convex shape. They also, however state that the grouping based on these characteristics has little phylogenetic validity, and the placement of several genera in this and related tribes is likely to change.
Liatongus is a genus of dung beetles in the subfamily Scarabaeinae of the scarab beetle family. At least part of the upper surfaces are without hairs; the head and pronotal disc are generally sculptured; and the genae are rounded, with little or no indentation between the clypeus and the genae. Length ranges from 7.4 to 10.9 mm. Colours vary: they may be uniform brown or dull purple, or have red, white or yellow patterns on the elytra.
Heteronychus is a genus of beetles belonging to the family Scarabaeidae, subfamily Dynastinae.
Garreta smaragdifer is a species of dung beetle native to India and Sri Lanka.
Heliocopris bucephalus, commonly known as Elephant dung beetle, is a species of dung beetle found in India, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Malay Peninsula, Java, Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia.
Coprophanaeus lancifer is a large species of beetle belonging to the family Scarabaeidae. It is found widely in the Amazon rainforest in South America and it is often common.
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