also: ふんちゅう
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: フンコロガシ (ふんころがし) · コガネムシ (こがねむし)
Dung beetles eat animal feces.
I saw a dung beetle rolling dung in the park.
maggots in feces
Specifically refers to fly larvae found in excrement. This sense is less common and may be considered vulgar or technical.
I cleaned up the feces before maggots appeared.
Standard kanji form; reading くそむし is the most common for this word.
Alternate reading, less common; may appear in technical or formal contexts.
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.