Dung beetles are insects that utilise animal dung for feeding and reproduction. They are broadly categorised into three functional groups based on their nesting behaviour.

• Tunnelers: bury dung in tunnels beneath or beside dung pats.
• Dwellers: live and breed within the dung pat itself.
• Rollers: form dung balls and roll them away for burial (rollers are not found in Victoria).

Dung beetles are capable of travelling significant distances of up to 4 km per day in search of suitable dung sources. Several dung beetle genera are commonly found locally, each with distinct physical characteristics. Native dung beetles, particularly Onthophagus australis and Onthophagus mniszechi, are incredibly valuable for recycling livestock dung, rapidly burying and breaking it down to improve soil health, reduce pest flies, and return nutrients to the pasture.

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