Bug FAQBeaulieu Dung Beetle
Calamosternus granarius · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Scarabaeidae
Also called: Granular small dung beetle
These beetles are small, about 4 to 6 mm long. They are a widely distributed dung beetle that feeds on decaying plant material, compost, carrion and animal dung.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
They have a shiny, almost parallel-sided body that is black to dark brown, sometimes with lighter wing covers than the head and pronotum.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults measure roughly 4 to 6 mm in length.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
This species is a dung beetle found across a broad geographic area.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
It consumes debris, decaying vegetation, compost, carrion and animal dung.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
It has a widespread distribution worldwide.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it is found in the US
Recorded in 42 of 51 states and DC. Most records: California, Texas, Kentucky, Colorado, Utah, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Oregon.
Darker = more records. Counts are museum and citizen-science records, not population size.
Source: GBIF
Status: introduced in Canada. Source: iNaturalist
Months it is reported in the US
Source: GBIF
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I identify Calamosternus granarius?
Look for a small (4 to 6 mm) shiny beetle with a black to dark brown, almost parallel-sided body; the wing covers may be lighter than the head and pronotum.
Source: Wikipedia
What does Calamosternus granarius eat?
It feeds on decaying plant material, compost, carrion and animal dung.
Source: Wikipedia
Where is Calamosternus granarius found?
It is a dung beetle with a widespread distribution.
Source: Wikipedia
What other beetles might it be mistaken for?
It can be confused with other beetles that were formerly placed in the genus Aphodius.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Scarabaeidae)
Japanese BeetlePopillia japonicaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Common Green June BeetleCotinis nitidaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Phyllophaga crinitaPhyllophaga crinitaDamages trees, gardens or crops
European Rose ChaferCetonia aurata
Mediterranean Spotted ChaferOxythyrea funestaDamages trees, gardens or crops
Oriental BeetleExomala orientalisDamages trees, gardens or cropsSources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calamosternus_granarius
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · ITIS · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-24.