Onthophagus turbatus explained

Onthophagus turbatus, is a species of dung beetle found in India,^{[1] [2]} and Sri Lanka.^{[3] [4]}

Description

This oval, compact and less convex species has an average length of about 7 to 8 mm. Body bronze colored with a slight metallic green shine on dorsum. There is an undefined orange patch at the base of each elytron near the shoulder. Antennae and mouthparts are yellowish. Dorsum fairly closely clothed with minute greyish setae. Head rather broad, with rugose clypeus. Forehead sparingly punctured. Pronotum finely and closely punctured. Elytra finely striate, with flat intervals. Pygidium moderately punctured. Males are found in two forms as: long-horned phase and short-horned phase. In long-horned phase, there is a nearly erect horn arising between the eyes which is curving gently backward. Pronotum transversely hollowed. In short-horned phase, there is a short, transverse, erect, truncate horn between the eyes. Female has a strong transverse carina between the eyes.^[5]

Notes and References

1. Web site: Latha . Thomas . Sabu . Thomas K. . 2018 . Dung beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) community structure across a forest- agriculture habitat ecotonein South Western Ghats . 2021-07-25 . International Journal of Environment, Agriculture and Biotechnology . 1879–1890 . 10.22161/ijeab/3.5.41.
2. Web site: Venugopal . K. S. . Thomas . S. K. . Flemming . A. T. . 2012-07-26 . Diversity and community structure of dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) associated with semi-urban fragmented agricultural land in the Malabar coast in southern India . 2021-07-25 . Journal of Threatened Taxa . 2685–2692 . en . 10.11609/JoTT.o3074.2685-92.
3. Web site: The National Red List 2012 of Sri Lanka; Conservation Status of the Fauna and Flora . 2021-07-25 . Ministry of Environment in Sri Lanka.
4. Web site: Onthophagus turbatus Walker, 1858 . 2021-07-25 . www.gbif.org . en.
5. Web site: Onthophagus turbatus Walker, 1858 . 2021-07-25 . India Biodiversity Portal.