Singapore dungabee fact #2

Paragymnopleurus maurus

Paragymnopleurus maurus is perhaps the only dung beetle species in Singapore that rolls dung balls away from the dung source. Such rollers are also referred to as telocoprids, whereas the tunnelers are known as paracoprids [1].

Check out these long hind legs!

Rollers can be identified by their longer hind legs, which they use to roll dung balls away from its main source and bury them in another location for nesting purposes [1]. P. maurus is about 15mm in length, making it the second largest dung beetle in Singapore thus far.

Finally, please enjoy this short video (shot by Dave Ng) of this cool rolling "dungabee".

References:

[1] Hanski, I. & Cambefort, Y.  (1991) Dung Beetle Ecology. Princeton: Princeton University Press.

Photos by Zestin Soh