Suplementary materials_Dung beetles in Argentina.xlsx

Taxonomically, 20 tribes, 270 genera, 7,000 living, and 23 fossil species have been included within dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae). In Argentina, 247 species have been reported. Ecologically, relevance has been attributed to these insects due to the burial of organic matter (dung or carrion), which is carried out for feeding or as nesting provisions. Through this burial process, dung beetles perform several ecological functions. Numerous reviews on the distribution of dung beetles have been published at global and continental scales, while the current state in Argentina remains unknown. Based on this context, the temporal and spatial progress of studies involving dung beetles in the country has been explored, and information gaps have been identified to propose the main challenges for future research in Argentina. Literature was searched using Google Scholar and Web of Science. A total of 69 studies were collected, with the first published in 1944; however, since the 2000s, an exponential increase has been observed, accounting for 86% of all studies published in the country. Most studies and species in Argentina have been recorded in the Paranaense rainforest ecoregion and Misiones province. Additional studies are needed, particularly those addressing the ecological functions and thermal tolerance of dung beetles.