Beach sunflower is an attractive coastal plant that is well suited for many landscapes. The native plant can thrive in hot and dry spots where other plants may struggle. Learn more about Beach sunflower, Helianthus debilis, and how to use it in your landscape.
A pair of Canthon imitator beetles with a dung ball – the larger female pushes while the smaller male rides. This rolling behavior is shared with its close Florida relative, the common tumblebug (Canthon pilularius). Photo by Whitney Cranshaw, Colorado State University, Bugwood.org.
Dung Beetles of the Florida Panhandle
Mounds of excavated sand mark the tunnel entrances of Peltotrupes profundus in a scrubby Florida landscape. Photo by Lyle Buss.
There aren’t many creatures that can stir up a mix of admiration – and possibly some mild disgust – like the dung beetle. But if you spend much time around pastures, the woods, or even in your own garden, you might be surprised to learn these literal poop-pushers are the unsung heroes in local ecosystems – especially when it comes to soil health.
Dung beetles, which are primarily members of the Scarabaeidae family, specialize in feeding on and burying animal feces. That might not sound glamorous, but they more than earn their keep in the ecosystem. These beetles break down waste, aerate the soil, recycle nutrients, and reduce parasite loads in pastures. By quickly burying dung, they limit fly breeding and prevent harmful bacteria from hanging around longer than necessary.
In our part of Florida, where livestock, wildlife, and backyard chickens are common, dung beetles can play a quiet but essential role in keeping both landscapes and gardens healthier. While you might not see them directly in your raised beds, the soil health benefits they bring to the wider environment ripple out in ways gardeners can appreciate.
A male rainbow scarab (Phanaeus vindex) with the distinctive horn used in battles over dung. This native beetle is one of Florida’s most colorful nutrient recyclers. Photo by Joseph LaForest, University of Georgia, Bugwood.org.
Not all dung beetles are the ball-rolling athletes we imagine. In fact, most species in Florida are what we call tunnelers – they bury dung directly underneath where it lands, creating little underground pockets of fertility. Others are dwellers, who live inside the pile and lay their eggs right there.
While most of our local dung beetles are underground specialists, we do have at least one native species that performs that famous backward march. If you’re out walking after a summer rain, you just might spot a shiny black beetle with spiny legs rolling a dung ball twice its size – just one of the many native species quietly doing their part beneath our feet.
Native Dung Beetles of North Florida
While most people wouldn’t recognize a dung beetle if it landed on their compost pile, a surprising number of native species are hard at work across the Panhandle – from open fields to pine flatwoods to the edges of suburban backyards.
A female fiery scarab (Phanaeus igneus) emerges from a sandy tunnel in the Florida Panhandle. Photo by Erik Lovestrand, UF/IFAS.
One of the flashiest is the rainbow scarab (Phanaeus vindex), a heavy-bodied tunneler with a brilliant metallic sheen – often green or blue with coppery highlights. Males sport a single, curved horn and are known to spar over fresh dung like tiny armored knights. They’re most active in the warmer months and are common in both wild and grazed areas.
Another native jewel is the fiery scarab (Phanaeus igneus), which also shines with a coppery or red metallic glow. A Florida subspecies, P. igneus floridanus, occurs across central and northern parts of the state. These beetles prefer sandy soils and natural areas like longleaf pine uplands or scrub habitats, quietly tunneling through dung from wildlife or livestock.
And then there’s the Florida deepdigger scarab (Peltotrupes profundus), an endemic species found only in Florida. This dark, robust beetle creates conspicuous sand mounds in scrubby or pine-covered landscapes. Below those mounds? Tunnels that can run several feet deep. These beetles aren’t exclusive dung feeders – they mix organic matter into the soil, creating long-lasting soil channels that help roots breathe and water move more freely.
Adult Peltotrupes profundus, a Florida-endemic beetle known for its deep tunnels in sandy soils. Photo by Lyle Buss.
Finally, we have one native species that actually does roll its dung: the aptly named common tumblebug (Canthon pilularius). This smaller black beetle sculpts dung into neat balls and rolls them away to bury. They’re usually seen in open areas and pastures during the warmer seasons. If you spot one, enjoy the show – they’re fast, efficient, and usually gone in minutes.
Non-Native Dung Beetles in Florida
Several non-native dung beetle species have also become established in Florida, introduced in the 1970s to help manage cattle manure in pastures. These include species like the gazelle dung beetle (Digitonthophagus gazella), bull-headed dung beetle (Onthophagus taurus), and the sandy dung beetle (Euoniticellus intermedius). All three are tunnelers that quickly bury fresh dung, reducing fly populations and improving soil fertility. They’re now widespread in pastures across North Florida, especially in the summer and fall. Another common non-native is the European dung beetle (Aphodius fimetarius), a small red-and-black species that acts as a dweller, living and breeding directly within the dung pile itself.
The common tumblebug (Canthon pilularius) is one of the few native dung beetles in Florida that rolls dung into balls. Photo by Kansas Department of Agriculture, Bugwood.org.
While none of these introduced beetles are currently considered invasive, some researchers have raised concerns about how they might compete with native species for dung – especially in heavily grazed pastures. That said, most tend to stick close to livestock areas and haven’t been shown to disrupt natural ecosystems in a meaningful way.
Soil Helpers, Garden Allies
For gardeners and farmers alike, dung beetles are some of our most efficient natural tillers. Their tunneling mixes organic matter deeper into the soil profile, improving structure and water infiltration. That means fewer compaction issues and better moisture retention during our dry spells. In pastures, studies have shown that they can improve grass growth and reduce runoff – pretty remarkable for something that lives in poop.
If you’re already focused on fostering a sustainable landscape, be sure to give dung beetles a spot on your list of wildlife to appreciate and protect. In a world full of tidy lawns and picture-perfect beds, dung beetles remind us that beauty isn’t always what you see on the surface. Sometimes, the real work is happening just below it.
A tiny juvenile praying mantis stalks prey on a gloriosa lily. Photo credit: Carrie Stevenson, UF IFAS Extension
The gloriosa lilies have been in full glory, so to speak, in our garden at the Extension office the last few weeks. While photographing them, I noticed a tiny visitor hidden in plain sight among the flower’s frilly petals and stamen. A bright green juvenile praying mantis, no more than an inch long and the same shade of green as the plant, stood still directly in front of me.
A Larger Florida Mantis perches on blazing star flowers in Sarasota. Photo credit: chaseyb via iNaturalist
Praying mantids are often recognizable and well-known due to their interesting body shape and posture. They have other wild features, too, like gigantic folding “raptorial” (grasping/predatory) front legs and the ability to swivel their big-eyed, alien heads 180°. The large European mantid’s Latin name, Mantis religiosa, comes from the insect’s posture when hunting. It sits or stands with its forelegs folded up as if in prayer, before deploying them rapidly for a meal. All mantid species are ambush predators, capturing prey by sitting in wait, camouflaged in color and shape. They’ve even been observed swaying gently to appear like leaves in the breeze. But when they spring to attack, they are deadly accurate.
The charismatic praying mantis, in stealth attack position. Photo credit: University of Wisconsin Extension
The insects are known for their infamous (but rare in the wild) post-mating male beheading. Mantids are not alone in that cannibalistic behavior—many insects and spiders exhibit this conduct to boost the energy of females as they produce the next generation. Most mantid species are tropical, but of the 2400 known worldwide, only about 20 live in the United States (11 in Florida).
Mantids are considered natural pest control in a garden, although they are generalists and will prey on both beneficial and pest insects. With those spiky front legs raised in the air, they drop down and grasp prey ranging in size from aphids to—rarely—hummingbirds. Their effective predatory behavior doesn’t make them immune from becoming prey themselves, however. Mantids are a food source for many species, including bats, birds, spiders, and fish.
When most people think of insects, they think of the bad ones, but not all insects are bad! Insects are labeled as bad or ‘pests’ when they start causing harm to people or the things we care about such as plants, animals, and buildings but most insects are GOOD! In fact, of the millions of insect species found throughout the world, less than 2% are actually considered pests. There are several different ways insects can be beneficial in your garden or landscape:
One of the best things you can do for your garden is learn to differentiate pest insect species from beneficial ones! Just because you see an insect on your plant, doesn’t necessarily mean it is causing harm. If you see an insect, are you seeing injury to the plant? If so, what type of injury (defoliation, yellowing, leaf curling)? If you aren’t seeing injury, then you may not have anything to worry about. If you find something you’re unsure of, you can always reach out to your local UF/IFAS Extension Agent!
Pipevine swallowtail on Azalea.
Attracting and encouraging beneficial insects can really help your garden and landscape thrive. The best way to attract beneficial insects to your garden or landscape is to have lots of plant diversity. A mix of trees, shrubs, annual and perennial flowers in the landscape is best. Trees and shrubs will provide shelter for insects to overwinter, and flowers provide pollen and nectar.
Flowers in the carrot family (Apiaceae) such as caraway, coriander, cilantro, dill and fennel are attractive for parasitic wasps. Flowers in the Aster family (Asteraceae) such as blanketflower, coneflower, coreopsis, cosmos and goldenrod are attractive for larger predators like lady beetles and soldier beetles. These can be incorporated into the garden or flower beds.
For more information on attracting beneficial insects to your landscape, contact your local UF/IFAS Extension Agent!
Extension agents occasionally receive calls about “alien” bug sightings, sparking concern among residents. One such insect, Gonatista grisea, commonly known as the Grizzled Mantis, Florida bark Mantis or Lichen Mimic mantis, often raises alarm. But there’s no need to panic—this mantis is a fascinating and harmless part of our ecosystem.
Photo Credit: Vincent Moore, Sweet Magnolia Ridge.
The Grizzled Mantis is native to the United States, ranging from southern Florida to Georgia and South Carolina, and is also found in Puerto Rico, Jamaica, and Cuba. Adults are relatively small, with males measuring 36–38 mm and females slightly larger at 37–40 mm. Their grayish-green coloration and mottled dark markings provide excellent camouflage, allowing them to blend seamlessly into their surroundings, such as lichen-covered bark. They are characterized by triangular heads and large eyes, perfect for their ambush hunting style.
Quick and agile, Grizzled Mantids scuttle rapidly away from perceived threats. They exclusively prey on arthropods, adopting a head-down ambush position while resting on tree bark. Their preferred plants include sea grape, gumbo limbo, water oak, and magnolia, though they are not limited to these species.
Interestingly, mantids are gaining popularity as low-maintenance pets. Some enthusiasts collect egg cases or purchase late-stage nymphs. However, keep in mind that newly hatched mantids require ample food or separation, as they can become cannibalistic if resources are scarce.
Whether in the wild or as pets, the Grizzled Mantis is a unique and beneficial insect, playing a role in controlling arthropod populations. So, the next time you spot one, there’s no need for fear—just appreciation for this remarkable creature!
For more information, contact your local Extension Office or click on the link Grizzled mantid – Gonatista grisea.
Two years ago, the Escambia Master Gardener Volunteers were gifted with the flowering perennial Sweet Almond bush (Aloysia virgata). It has quickly become a favorite plant of volunteers and garden visitors due to its many attractive features.
Although, Sweet almond bush is not a Florida native, it is Florida-friendly plant for zones 8b -10b. Plants grow very large, from 6-10 feet with branching that can spread out in all directions. In North Florida, plants can be damaged by a freeze but either return from the base or from growing points higher on branches.
One of the best features are the fragrant white flowers spikes that will be present late spring through fall. Many types of pollinating insects will be attracted to the flowers, although sometimes flowers are too high on the plant for many of us to get a good look at pollinator details.
Sweet almond bush blooms. Photo by Beth Bolles, UF IFAS Extension Escambia County
We have plants both in full sun and partial shade that are performing well in the Escambia Demonstration Gardens. Plants do receive water when rainfall is lacking for about 5-7 days (or all of August this year in the Northwest Panhandle). You can shape your plant with a little light pruning during the growing season to keep branches a little more in bounds. Don’t forget to start a few new plants from these cuttings and then share a low maintenance plant with your neighbors.