Hi Kevin, You were pretty close with "yeast", but they are laboulbeniales fungi of the Class Laboulbeniomycetes. They are quite common on dung beetles from around the world, and also occur on a wide variety of other beetles. A five volume work on the group was published by Thaxter from 1896-1931, but I think the group has been neglected by Mycologists over the last few decades . . . or perhaps half century! Cheers, Bruce B.D.Gill, Ph.D., F.R.E.S. Editor-in-Chief, _Biodiversity_ Published by Biodiversity Conservancy International http://biodiversityconservancy.org and Taylor & Francis Journals http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/tbid20 On 2017-10-11 15:13, Floate, Kevin wrote: > Hi All: > > My colleague, Wes Watson, has a project with _Onthophagus taurus_. A number of the adult beetles he's recovering are speckled with yellow spots. Closer examination reveals what appears to be yeast(?) in the spots. Have others made a similar observations on beetles? Photos are attached. > > Any clue as to what these are? > > If you can help Wes out, I know he would appreciate it. Please contact Wes directly at [log in to unmask] > > Thanks, > > Kevin > > Kevin Floate, Research Scientist > > Insect Biocontrol | Lutte biologique aux insectes > > Lethbridge Research Centre | Centre de recherches de Lethbridge > Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada | Agriculture et Agroalimentaire Canada > 5403 - 1st Avenue South, P.O. Box 3000 | 5403 - 1ère Avenue Sud, C.P. 3000 > Lethbridge, Alberta, CANADA T1J 4B1 > > Email | Adresse courriel: [log in to unmask] > Telephone | Téléphone: 403-317-2242 > Facsimile | Télécopieur: 403-382-3156 > Teletypewriter | Téléimprimeur: 613-773-2600 > Government of Canada | Gouvernement du Canada > > http://sites.google.com/site/dungins/homepage [1] > > Dr. Kevin Floate, Editor-in-Chief > > _The Canadian Entomologist [2]_ Links: ------ [1] http://sites.google.com/site/dungins/homepage [2] http://journals.cambridge.org/action/displayJournal?jid=tce