Tasmanian Natives

Australia had native dung beetles (near 500 species identified so far) before colonisation. However the native species generally prefer marsupial dung and are not often found in cattle dung (except for O. Australis - see photo below). Therefore the CSIRO developed the Dung beetle Project (mainly by the efforts of Dr George Bornemissza, an émigré from Hungary)

Commonly seen in Tasmania pastures-

Onthophagus australis

(rounded, black with green sheen, 11-13mm)

Aphodius tasmaniae (blackheaded cockchafer)

(a pasture pest which is not a ‘true’ dung beetle yet is often seen in dung; elongated, dark brown to black, 10-12mm in length)