Kerala Island Study Finds Surprising Variety of Dung Beetles

Findings And Species

A recent study on Kerala's Vypin-Kadamakkudy barrier island system recorded 20,927 dung beetles across 29 species, showing much higher diversity than researchers expected in an urbanising landscape. Dung beetles belong mainly to the scarab subfamily Scarabaeinae and feed, breed, and nest in animal waste. They feature a hard outer shell and great strength. For instance, the male horned dung beetle, known as Onthophagus taurus, can pull up to 1,141 times its body weight, which matches an average human lifting six double-decker buses.

Habits And Diversity

Dung beetles live on every continent except Antarctica and exist in over 6,000 species worldwide, with about 400 to 500 species found in India. They divide into three groups based on how they handle dung: rollers like Gymnopleurus species shape dung into balls and bury them elsewhere, tunnellers like Onitis species dig chambers beneath a dung pat, and dwellers like Oniticellus species breed right inside the pat. They also have different diets. While many generalists eat any animal waste, specialists like Heliocopris dominus rely entirely on wild elephant dung.

Threats And Pressures

Most Indian dung beetles are not yet assessed on the IUCN Red List, but researchers warn that habitat loss and fragmentation pose major threats. Declining amounts and quality of dung add to the danger. In Kerala, local issues like flooding and high salt water intrusion create extra pressure. K.V. Vinod, a researcher at the Department of Zoology at Nirmala College, noted in a May 2026 report that threats include rapid urban growth, lower dung availability, and veterinary drugs such as ivermectin that make dung toxic to the beetles.

Context

Dung beetles act as vital ecological helpers by cleaning up animal waste, which helps cut down methane emissions, loosen soil, and keep pest flies away. They also help spread seeds across natural landscapes. Understanding their presence in growing urban areas helps scientists track how local wildlife adapts to human changes.