Although the morphology of many species is poorly known, dung beetles have been subject to much study. They are highly beneficial as scavengers, and a few species have been introduced intentionally from Africa to Australia and the U.S. In addition to dung removal, their activities enrich the soil and reduce numbers of dung-feeding flies.

Beetles can easily be recognized by the armor-like forewings, called elytra, that cover the membranous hindwings used for flying. The name coleoptera means "sheath wings." Most beetles have large prominent compound eyes, and there are many different types of beetle antennae: threadlike, clubbed, antennae with leaf-like structures at the tip, so-called longhorn beetles with antennae up to 2 1/2 times their body length. The elytra are often brightly colored and patterned, attributes that earn some beetles the sobriquet "living jewels."