Examining phenotypic variations in an introduced population of the invasive dung beetle <i>Digitonthophagus gazella</i> (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Abstract In this study, we examined the morphological traits of Digitonthophagus gazella (Fabricius) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) which is native to East Africa and was introduced to the southeast U.S. approximately 50 years ago. We measured five traits thought to be associated with species dispersal and compared them between the native and introduced populations. We found significant differences in the median size and shape of some of these body parts and propose that these morphological traits may have implications for the movement and future dispersal ability of D. gazella , which could promote its invasion ability and have a negative impact on native dung beetle populations and the ecosystem services they provide.