First new dung beetle species record in 105 years for the Faroe Islands
The newly recorded dung beetle species Aphodius borealis. Photo: Agnes-Katharina Kreiling.
A new dung beetle species, Aphodius borealis, has been recorded by biologists at Tjóðsavnið for the first time from the Faroe Islands. This is the first record of a new dung beetle species in 105 years.
Fifteen individuals collected from sheep dung on Koltur in June 2019 were recently identified by Agnes-Katharina Kreiling as the dung beetle Aphodius borealis. It has been given the Faroese name Norðurtøðklukka. There are now four species of dung beetles (Aphodiinae) known from the Faroes: Aphodius lapponum (Roðatøðklukka), Aphodius ater (Koltøðklukka), Aphodius foetidus (Svávultøðklukka) and Aphodius borealis (Norðurtøðklukka). All four species develop in sheep and cow dung.
Aphodius ater in its natural habitat, fresh sheep dung. Photo: Leivur Janus Hansen
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