page_title: Pachylomera femoralis
section_title: Biology
hierarchical_section_title: Pachylomera femoralis / Biology
caption_attribution_description: S90 Road South of Olifants, Kruger NP, SOUTH AFRICA
context_page_description: Pachylomera femoralis is a species of blackish gray dung beetle from the family Scarabaeidae, which is widespread in the woodland and savannah regions of Africa south of the equator.
context_section_description: It is the largest flying, ball-rolling dung beetle in the world. The front legs, that it walks on while rolling the dung ball, are particularly strong. It specializes to some extent on buffalo and elephant dung and constructs a large ball, with the flattened leg appendages. The front legs have a rufous velvet patch each, that are used to wipe the eyes clean. The eyes are oriented to provide a good downward view while flying. The dung ball is rolled away from their con-specific competitors and buried in the ground. The male forms the dung ball for breeding, and a female will approach and assist in rolling a dung ball which is to her liking.
caption: Male in elephant dung, showing rufous velvet patch on front leg.
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