Family: Scarabaeidae
Subfamily: Scarabaeinae
The taurus scarab (Onthophagus taurus) is a species of dung beetle
in the genus Onthophagus.
Description
Onthophagus taurus can reach a
length of 5.5–11 millimetres (0.22–0.43 in). These small beetles are oval
shaped, the color is usually black or reddish-brown. Sometimes the pronotum has
a weak metallic sheen. Males have on the heads a pair of long protrusions or
horns (hence the species name) that they use to fight with each other to gain
mating rights with females.Some males do not have horns, and therefore do not
come into the fight, but have larger gonads. A similar dimorphism in males have
been found in some other species (Ageopsis nigicollis, Podischnus agenor) .
This adaption reduces direct competition with horned males. Onthophagus taurus
can pull a weight of 1141 times its own body mass and is considered the
strongest animal on earth on a body weight to lift ratio.
Distribution
This species is present in
Europe, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Syria, Irak, Transcaucasia, Asia Minor,
Iran, Afghanistan, Central Asia and USA.
Economic value
Dung beetles have been utilized
in the breakdown of manure on sheep and dairy farms worldwide. In September 2013 O. taurus was
released for the first time in New Zealand, in the Gore District of Southland.
These beetles pull the manure into the ground to create their brood balls,
which they use as egg chambers. This increases grazing space for cattle,
reduces habitats for flies and bacteria, and reduces the need for chemical
fertilizers. From
Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
In Cyprus
In Cyprus the species
occurrence is connected with the presence of free grazing animals, like at
Akrotiri and Karpasia peninsula. In livestock farm areas, the species is facing
reproduction problems, because of pesticides and parasiticides.
Photos at Akrotiri
10/4/2016, by Michael Hadjiconstantis.
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