%2010.jpg)
Scarabaeus semipunctatus, or the dune dung beetle, is a 14–28 mm long, brownish-black Mediterranean beetle inhabiting coastal dune systems. It is a specialized dung-feeder that rolls dung balls for food and breeding. Active during the day, it is recognized as a threatened species due to habitat loss.
Key Facts about Scarabaeus semipunctatus:
Habitat & Range: Exclusively found in coastal dune ecosystems, ranging from the Iberian Peninsula and the Mediterranean coast to the Balkans, as well as parts of North Africa.
Physical Characteristics: Medium-sized (14–28 mm), with a flat, broad body. It is black/brownish-black with shiny, nearly smooth elytra (wing covers) and a punctured pronotum. The head has a denticulated clypeus with 6 distinct teeth.
Diet & Behavior: Strictly coprophagous (eats dung). It uses a strong sense of smell to find dung, creating a ball that is rolled using its hind legs.
Reproduction: Females lay eggs inside a, buried, shaped dung ball, which serves as food for the larvae.
Threats & Conservation: The species is threatened by the loss of dune habitats, with a significant decrease in population density reported over the last 50 years.
Significance: It plays a crucial ecological role in nutrient cycling by burying dung in sandy environments.
