The Mesmerizing South American Dung Beetle

This beetle flew around the South American rainforest hoping to smell a dead mouse. He used his horny protuberances to fight off other males and control the carrion. Following this adventurism he might mate with a female, because who can resist a guy with a dead mouse? Together, they’d bury the body and she’d lay their eggs on it, ensuring a food supply for their offspring. Does this sound familiar? In the exhibits at Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History, you may have seen a video of a local burying beetle species doing the same romantic deed. Like other carrion eaters, such beetles provide a valuable cleanup service. This specimen was donated to the Museum from a private collection and is now among the hundreds of thousands of prepared specimens overseen by Schlinger Chair of Entomology Alex Harman, PhD. The historic label reflects an old name and a misidentification – the scientific name is Coprophanaeus lancifer.

Butterflies Alive!, ranked in the top 3 butterfly gardens in the country by USA Today, is fluttering back soon. Mark your calendars. May 23 is its first day.