Abstract: Understanding the integument structure of edaphic insects helps discover the unstickness mechanism of these insects and offer clues for bionics. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to observe the structure of pits and setae of the integument of the head, body and legs of the dung beetle, Copris ochus Motschulsky. Four kinds of simple pits were found, that varied from one part of the body to another in their dimensions, types of rims and the length of a centrally located, socketed seta. In addition, there were pits that had a mound in the center containing a central socketed seta, and pits that lacked a central seta, but had a small one at the top of a semicircular rim. Simple pits, of one kind or another, occurred widely over the body, except for the abdomen; pits with mounds were present on the prothorax, and those with semicircular rims only on the tibia. There also were openings of ducts in the nodes of elytral grooves that often contained accumulations of some substance. There was a variety of sizes and types of setae other than those associated with pits, especially on the head and legs. The distribution and form of pits and setae forms unsmooth surface which minimize adherence of particles to body surface, but secretions and cuticular chemicals also may contribute to the non-adherent properties of these insects.

Key words: Copris ochus, integument pits, unsmooth surface, nonadherenct bionics