Oscarinus rusicola

Dung Beetle

As part of nature's cleanup crew, oscarinus rusicola contributes to a healthier and more sustainable environment.

Oscarinus rusicola

North American origin
Dwelling species (endocoprids)

Size: 3.6-5.2 mm in length; 1.7 to 2.7 mm wide

Identification: Dark brownish red

A tiny dark reddish brown dung beetle. The pronotum is moderately punctate. The body appears very shiny and the edges appear almost translucent reddish. The legs are the most red tinted part of the body. The scutellum is small and notably triangular in shape (in comparison to the pentagonal granarius). The beetle is approximately 3.6-5.2 mm in length. — Photo by Hannah Tolz

Range

Across North America

Overwinter Life Stage

Pre-pupa or adults

Generations per season

Potentially two

Dwellers

Endocorpids

Dung beetle species that "dwell" lay their eggs in brood balls they have constructed in the the pat or just below the surface.

More dwelling dung beetles of New York

illustration of a cow pat with tunnels inside with brood balls and dung beetles — Illustration by Hannah Tolz

About Dung Beetles

Dung beetles are a beneficial part of the agricultural integrated pest management toolkit, helping to control unwanted pests, such as horn and face flies. These industrious insects play a crucial role in maintaining ecosystem balance by efficiently recycling dung, improving soil quality, and reducing the prevalence of harmful pests.

A Visual Guide

A multi-toned brown dung beetle. There are two lighter tannish lines that run vertically down the wing case (elytra) where the wings open up. Towards the edges of the elytra, the coloring becomes much darker. The top of the pronotum appears dark brown and the edges a lighter tan brown. The pronotum is sparsely punctate and shiny. The head is dark but the top two triangle shaped corners are orange. The legs are a transparent reddish tan. The scutellum is small. The beetle is 3.5-5.8 mm in length.