For the identification of insects and other fauna and flora of South Africa.

Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Addo Flightless Dung Beetle (Circellium bacchus)

Family Scarabaeidae
The flightless dung beetle (Circellium bacchus) is a species of dung beetle endemic to a few areas of South Africa, including the Addo Elephant National Park and the Buffalo Valley Game Farm. It is the only species in the genus Circellium.
The species was originally widespread in Southern Africa, but it only survives in the few areas mentioned above; as such, it qualifies as an IUCN vulnerable species.
Its vulnerability is exacerbated by a number of other factors, including the fact that its habitat is under threat by agriculture and human activity, that is has low breeding capacity as well as low dispersability (as a consequence of being flightless), and that its survival is strictly dependent on a number of vertebrates (particularly elephant and buffalo) that are also experiencing a decrease in population.

The flightless dung beetles mostly feed on elephant or buffalo faeces, but they have been recorded to also feed on dung from other species such as rabbits, baboons, antelopes, and ostriches.
Info:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flightless_dung_beetle

6 comments:

Diane said...

I love the dung beetles, they fascinate me and I could watch them for hours. Hope you have a good Easter. Diane

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

You too Diane. Thanks.

Gaelyn said...

So glad we found this one.

Unknown said...

Hi, Joan! How are you? Great shots of this amazing little creature.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Me too Gaelyn.

SAPhotographs (Joan) said...

Thanks Jose. Lovely to hear from you. I am always great thanks and hope you can say the same.