also: ふんちゅう
noun
Refers to beetles that feed on dung, especially the Japanese dung beetle (Copris ochus) or similar species. Often associated with the image of rolling dung balls.
See also: 糞転がし (ふんころがし) · 黄金虫 (こがねむし)
糞虫は動物の糞を食べる。
Dung beetles eat animal feces.
公園で糞虫が糞を転がしているのを見た。
I saw a dung beetle rolling dung in the park.
noun
maggots in feces
Specifically refers to fly larvae found in excrement. This sense is less common and may be considered vulgar or technical.
糞虫がわく前に糞を片付けた。
I cleaned up the feces before maggots appeared.
Compound of 糞 (くそ, 'feces') and 虫 (むし, 'insect'). The reading ふんちゅう uses the on'yomi of the kanji.