''Scarabaeus ambiguus'' is a species of
Old World
The "Old World" is a term for Afro-Eurasia that originated in Europe , after Europeans became aware of the existence of the Americas. It is used to contrast the continents of Africa, Europe, and Asia, which were previously thought of by the ...
dung beetles. This beetle rolls up a ball of dung before laying eggs on it and burying it.
Description
''Scarabaeus ambiguus'' is a large black species of scarab beetle with an adult length of about . The forelegs are adapted for squeezing and manipulating loose dung to form balls.
Distribution and habitat
''Scarabaeus ambiguus'' is native to southern Africa, its range including Namibia, Botswana and South Africa. Its range centres on the South African province of KwaZulu-Natal, and adjacent parts of the
Eastern Cape
The Eastern Cape is one of the provinces of South Africa. Its capital is Bhisho, but its two largest cities are East London and Gqeberha.
The second largest province in the country (at 168,966 km2) after Northern Cape, it was formed in ...
where it is found on
highveld
The Highveld (Afrikaans: ''Hoëveld'', where ''veld'' means "field") is the portion of the South African inland plateau which has an altitude above roughly 1500 m, but below 2100 m, thus excluding the Lesotho mountain regions to the south-east of ...
grassland,
bushveld
The Bushveld (from af, bosveld, af, bos 'bush' and af, veld) is a tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands, sub-tropical woodland ecoregion of Southern Africa. It encompasses most of Limpopo Province and a small part of ...
and open woodland, but avoids thick forests and dense stands of trees. It is generally found between elevations of between .
Ecology
Dung beetles locate dung by detecting the odours produced by its volatile constituents. Different species of dung beetle are attracted to the dung produced by different animals.
''Scarabaeus ambiguus'' seems to be attracted by both cattle dung and donkey dung. It is diurnal and is particularly active in the morning, in the cool conditions after heavy rain, when it is on the wing earlier than other species of dung beetle.
Status
''Scarabaeus ambiguus'' seems quite common in suitable habitat within its range.
References
{{Taxonbar, from=Q14891442
Scarabaeinae