Western Dung Beetle
Commonly called a 'rhinoceros beetle', they help improve soil health and control fly populations.
Suburbs Alexander Heights Alfred Cove Alkimos Anketell Applecross Ardross Armadale Ascot Ashby Ashendon Ashfield Attadale Atwell Aubin Grove Aveley Avon Valley National Park Bailup Bakers Hill Balcatta Baldivis Balga Ballajura Bambun Banjup Banksia Grove Baskerville Bassendean Bateman Bayswater Beaconsfield Beckenham Bedford Bedfordale Beechboro Beechina Beeliar Beldon Belhus Bellevue Belmont Bennett Springs Bentley Bertram Bibra Lake Bickley Bicton Bindoon Bindoon Training Area Boonanarring Booragoon Boya Brabham Breera Brentwood Brigadoon Brookdale Bull Creek Bullsbrook Burns Beach Burswood Butler Byford Calista Camillo Canning Mills Canning Vale Cannington Carabooda Carine Carlisle Carmel Carramar Casuarina Caversham Champion Lakes Chidlow Chittering Churchlands City Beach Claremont Clarkson Cloverdale Cockburn Central Como Connolly Coodanup Coogee Coolbellup Coolbinia Cooloongup Copley Cottesloe Craigie Crawley Cullacabardee Cullalla Currambine Daglish Dale Dalkeith Darch Darling Downs Darlington Dayton Dianella Doubleview Dudley Park Duncraig East Cannington East Fremantle East Perth East Rockingham East Victoria Park Eden Hill Edgewater Eglinton Ellenbrook Embleton Ferndale Flint Floreat Flynn Forrestdale Forrestfield Fremantle Gidgegannup Girrawheen Glen Forrest Glendalough Gnangara Golden Bay Gooseberry Hill Gorrie Gosnells Greenfields Greenmount Greenwood Guildford Gwelup Hacketts Gully Hamersley Hamilton Hill Hammond Park Harrisdale Haynes Hazelmere Heathridge Helena Valley Henderson Henley Brook Herdsman Herne Hill High Wycombe Highgate Hilbert Hillarys Hillman Hilton Hocking Hope Valley Hovea Huntingdale Iluka Inglewood Inkpen Innaloo Jandabup Jandakot Jane Brook Jarrahdale Jindalee Jolimont Joondalup Joondanna Julimar Kalamunda Kallaroo Karawara Kardinya Karnup Karragullen Karrakatta Karrakup Karrinyup Kelmscott Kensington Kenwick Keralup Kewdale Kiara Kings Park Kingsley Kinross Koondoola Koongamia Kwinana Beach Kwinana Town Centre Lake Coogee Lakelands Landsdale Langford Lathlain Leda Leederville Leeming Lennard Brook Lesley Lesmurdie Lexia Lockridge Lower Chittering Lynwood Maddington Madeley Madora Bay Mahogany Creek Maida Vale Malaga Malmalling Mandogalup Mandurah Manning Marangaroo Mariginiup Marmion Martin Maylands Meadow Springs Medina Melaleuca Melville Menora Merriwa Middle Swan Midland Midvale Millendon Mindarie Mindarra Mirrabooka Mogumber Mooliabeenee Moondah Moondyne Morangup Morley Mosman Park Mount Claremont Mount Cooke Mount Hawthorn Mount Helena Mount Lawley Mount Nasura Mount Observation Mount Pleasant Mount Richon Muchea Mullaloo Mundaring Munster Murdoch Myaree Naval Base Nedlands Neerabup Nollamara Noranda North Bannister North Beach North Coogee North Fremantle North Lake North Perth Northbridge Nowergup O’Connor Oakford Ocean Reef Orange Grove Orelia Osborne Park Padbury Palmyra Parkerville Parklands Parkwood Parmelia Paulls Valley Pearsall Peppermint Grove Peron Perth Perth Airport Piara Waters Pickering Brook Piesse Brook Pinjar Port Kennedy Postans Queens Park Quinns Rocks Red Hill Redcliffe Reservoir Ridgewood Riverton Rivervale Rockingham Roleystone Rossmoyne Safety Bay Salter Point Samson San Remo Sawyers Valley Scarborough Secret Harbour Seville Grove Shelley Shenton Park Shoalwater Silver Sands Sinagra Singleton Sorrento South Fremantle South Guildford South Lake South Perth Southern River Spearwood St James Stirling Stoneville Stratton Subiaco Success Swan View Swanbourne Tamala Park Tapping The Lakes The Spectacles The Vines Thornlie Treeby Trigg Tuart Hill Two Rocks Upper Swan Victoria Park Viveash Waikiki Walliston Walyunga National Park Wandi Wangara Wannamal Wanneroo Warnbro Warwick Waterford Watermans Bay Wattle Grove Wattleup Wellard Welshpool Wembley Wembley Downs West Leederville West Perth West Swan Westminster White Gum Valley Whiteman Willagee Willetton Wilson Winthrop Woodbridge Woodlands Woodvale Wooroloo Woottating Wundowie Wungong Yanchep Yangebup Yarawindah Yeal Yokine Beetles
Bushland
Healthy Soils
Heathland
Noongar Names: Not known
Scientific Name: Onthophagus ferox
Conservation Status: Least Concern
Threats: Habitat loss
Will they visit?: Western Dung Beetles visit home gardens located near bushland, reserves, and pastures
Natural Distribution: Common and widespread throughout the South West and Perth region
Onthophagus ferox – Linda Rogan (CC BY-NC-SA 4.0)
Onthophagus ferox – sea-kangaroo (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
Onthophagus ferox – Cheryl Macaulay (CC BY-NC 4.0) 2
Habitat at a Glance
See Habitat Guide for more detail
Shelter: Groundcovers, mulch, and lawn
Diet: Dung of native and domestic animals
Water: Not required
ReWild Benefit: Improve soil health and condition
Habitat Guide - Shelter
Natural Shelter
Western Dung Beetles live in leaflitter. Dense groundcovers and a layer of mulch can provide natural shelter in the garden.
Novel Shelter
Not required.
Habitat Guide - Food and Water
Providing natural sources of food
Western Dung Beetles feed on native and domestic animal dung. In Spring they will burrow balls of dung into the soil and lay their eggs. Often, they are seen on lawns with fresh manure or flying across the landscape. We do not recommend putting manure on native plants.
Providing sources of water
Not required.
ReWild Benefits
In Western Australia, dung beetles play a critical role in controlling flies and improving soil health. If you do see a The Western Dung Beetle, you can record your sighting on the Atlas of Living Australia !
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