Dwellers – Aphodiines

There are 46 aphodiines on the most recent Checklist of Beetles of the British Isles (Duff 2018). One species, Eupleurus subterraneus is now believed to be extinct in the British Isles.
The aphodiines used to be in one Genus Aphodius but recent changes in nomenclature (the naming system) mean that the Subgenera names have now been adopted as Genera. For example, the species Aphodius prodromus has become Melinopterus prodromus under the revised nomenclature.

Most aphodiines spend their entire lives in the dung, although a few are associated with vegetable refuse or live partly in Geotrupidae (Dor Beetle) burrows. Several species can be present in the same dung pile but preferences for dung type, dung age, soil type, and level of sun exposure exist. In this way the different species avoid competition with each other.
Some species are rather variable and have a number of different colour forms which can make identification more difficult.

Click here to download the British Scarabs identification guide.