Bug FAQCape Flightless Dung Beetle
Circellium bacchus · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Scarabaeidae
Also called: Addo Flightless Dung Beetle
The Cape Flightless Dung Beetle is the only species in its genus and lives only in a few South African reserves. It feeds mainly on elephant and buffalo dung, but will also use dung from rabbits, baboons, antelopes and ostriches. Lacking flight, it stores carbon dioxide under its wing covers, a water-saving adaptation for its arid habitat.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
It is the sole member of the genus Circellium.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
Its loss of flight lets it keep carbon dioxide under the elytra, helping it conserve water in dry areas.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
It mainly eats elephant and buffalo dung, but also consumes dung from rabbits, baboons, antelopes and ostriches.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Same family (Scarabaeidae)
Japanese BeetlePopillia japonicaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Common Green June BeetleCotinis nitidaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Phyllophaga crinitaPhyllophaga crinitaDamages trees, gardens or crops
European Rose ChaferCetonia aurata
Mediterranean Spotted ChaferOxythyrea funestaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Oriental BeetleExomala orientalisDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flightless_dung_beetle
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-23.