Bolbaffer princeps ()

About

Bolbaffer princeps is a species of beetle belonging to the Bolboceratidae family, which can be found in Southern Africa. They were originally misplaced in the Geotrupidae family due to similarities in their appearance and lifestyle. Their name is speculated to be derived from the Latin words "bolb" and "afer", meaning "bulbous shape" and "African", respectively.

This species is sexually dimorphic. Males have sharp, toothy pronotal bumps, which are less pronounced in females. The mandibles of males are slightly larger than those of females. Body length is approximately 20 millimetres long for both sexes. Their bodies sport a light brown or dark brown hue; sometimes, the first pair of wings can be lighter than the rest of the body. This species is quite variable, as their colour and pronotal structures vary between individuals.

Not much is known about the biology and distribution of this species. According to studies, these beetles spend the majority of their lives buried in underground tunnels, only emerging to the surface when humidity levels are increasing or directly after rainfall. Like many beetles, they are creatures of the night, choosing to stay away from direct light sources, yet they do enjoy staying around places with dimmer light.