Saphobius

{{short description|Genus of beetles}}

{{Use New Zealand English|date=July 2024}}

{{Taxobox

| image = Saphobius edwardsi.jpg

| image_caption = Saphobius edwardsi

| regnum = Animalia

| phylum = Arthropoda

| classis = Insecta

| ordo = Coleoptera

| subordo = Polyphaga

| superfamilia = Scarabaeoidea

| familia = Scarabaeidae

| subfamilia = Scarabaeinae

| tribus = Deltochilini

| genus = Saphobius

}}

Saphobius is a genus of dung beetles in the tribe Deltochilini of the subfamily Scarabaeinae. They are endemic to New Zealand, with Saphobius edwardsi being most widespread.{{Cite journal |last1=Jones |first1=Asher G. |last2=Forgie|first2=Shaun A.|last3=Scott|first3=David J.|last4=Beggs|first4=Jacqueline R. |date=2012-04-01|title=Generalist dung attraction response in a New Zealand dung beetle that evolved with an absence of mammalian herbivores|journal=Ecological Entomology |language=en|volume=37|issue=2|pages=124–133 |doi= 10.1111/j.1365-2311.2012.01344.x |s2cid=85356532 |issn=1365-2311}} They are small in size, flightless, forest dwelling and nocturnal, which is unusual for dung beetles.

Dung beetles are typically associated with mammal faeces,{{Cite book|title=Dung Beetle Ecology|last=Hanski|first=Ilkka|editor2-first=Yves|editor2-last=Cambefort|editor1-first=Ilkka|editor1-last=Hanski|publisher=Princeton University Press |year=2014 |isbn= 9781400862092|location=|pages=|language=en|doi=10.1515/9781400862092}} but prior to human habitation, New Zealand lacked land mammals other than three species of bats. This lack of mammal faeces has been suggested as the reason for the low diversity of dung beetles in New Zealand when compared to the rest of the world.{{Cite journal|last1=Davis|first1=Adrian L. V. |last2=Scholtz |first2=Clarke H. |date=2001-07-01|title=Historical vs. ecological factors influencing global patterns of scarabaeine dung beetle diversity|journal=Diversity and Distributions |language=en|volume=7|issue=4 |pages=161–174 |doi=10.1111/j.1472-4642.2001.00102.x |issn=1472-4642}} Olfaction studies and pitfall trap baiting trials have shown that chicken carcasses and squid are highly attractive to Saphobius, which may reflect the evolution of the genus on an island abundant with bird species, in particular sea birds.{{Cite journal|last1=Stavert|first1=Jamie R. |last2=Drayton |first2=Bradley A.|last3=Beggs|first3=Jacqueline R. |last4=Gaskett|first4=Anne C.|date=2014-10-01|title=The volatile organic compounds of introduced and native dung and carrion and their role in dung beetle foraging behaviour|journal=Ecological Entomology |language=en|volume=39|issue=5|pages=556–565 |doi=10.1111/een.12133|s2cid=82796507 |issn=1365-2311}}{{Cite journal |last1=Seldon|first1=David S. |last2=Beggs |first2=Jacqueline R.|date=2010-02-01|title=The efficacy of baited and live capture pitfall traps in collecting large-bodied forest carabids.|journal=New Zealand Entomologist |volume=33|issue=1 |pages=30–37 |doi=10.1080/00779962.2010.9722189 |issn=0077-9962|citeseerx=10.1.1.619.9659 |s2cid=87910405 }}