This species is listed as Least Concern on the basis that it has an extent of occurrence of around 27,000 km² and occurs in several protected areas. Although it occurs in areas with high levels of land transformation the most extensive land use change is localised within the western part of the range. Nevertheless it is probably vulnerable to the clearance of natural shrubland, and it is likely to have a considerably more restricted area of occupancy than presently known. Should further data reveal that the area of occupancy lies within the threshold for a threatened category, or the extent of shrub clearance increase substantially within its range, its assessment status will need review.

This species was described from Strand on the coast near Cape Town, South Africa, and occupies a range in cool, lowland to highland, low rainfall areas from the extreme south west of the Western Cape (Davis 1993) to the Eastern Cape in South Africa (Davis et al. 2020). Across this wide range it is known from 14 localities representing around eight distribution centres (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). It is likely to have a relatively restricted area of occupancy due to its association with natural shrubland, although it was probably continuously distributed in this area prior to land transformation (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). It may still be more continuous than presently known, but surveys in much of this area have been limited (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). In Walker Bay Nature Reserve, where habitat was expected to be suitable for this species, a recent survey failed to record it (G. Daniel pers. comm. 2023). It is possible either that this site is slightly too dry or that it was present but undetected (A. Davis and G. Daniel pers. comm. 2023). This species ranges from sea level to 1,885 m asl. (Davis et al. 2020).

There are little population data available for this species. It has, however, been trapped in low numbers in a nature reserve on the Cape Peninsula (Davis 1993). It has also been recorded in fair numbers at Waboomskraal in the coastal hills of the Western Cape, towards the east of the range.

This small bodied, day-flying, ball roller has been trapped in low numbers on cattle dung on deep sands in fynbos shrubland of the Cape floral region where it shows activity in the cool spring (peak in August) when rainfall is declining and temperatures are increasing (Davis 1993). In the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve (1987) it was recorded only in open cover mature fynbos, burnt 9-10 years previously, and of heterogeneous taxonomic composition, including Ericaceae and Proteaceae. It was not recorded at a nearby site burnt only 2-3 years previously, which was dominated by a low, dense cover of Restionaceae, nor in a pasture of Kikuyu grass on a farm adjacent to the reserve. The species is presumably a ball-roller as a brood ball disinterred from sand at Silvermine Nature Reserve, near Cape Town, contained a new adult of this species that was undergoing sclerotization (hardening) of the exoskeleton (A. Davis pers. obs. 2012).

Locality records for this species are centred in drier lower altitude Montane fynbos and renosterveld (AT1203), with marginal occurrence in Lowland fynbos and renosterveld (AT1202) and Succulent Karoo (AT1322) (ecoregions based on Olson et al. 2001).

Some environmental characteristics for 14 locality records are as follows: mean annual rainfall 375 ± 85 mm (S.D.), range: 186-475 mm; mean annual temperature 16.0 ± 2.2 ^oC  (S.D.), range: 10.1-17.7 ^oC (Davis et al. 2020).

Data suggest that clearance of natural shrubs due to urbanisation or development of agricultural lands, even grassland pasture, would be detrimental to this species. Vegetation units within its extent of occurrence have lost between 5 and 80% of their natural vegetation, and it may consequently be under pressure in parts of its range (Davis et al. 2020). The Western Cape of South Africa, where the species is restricted to old-growth shrubland, is highly developed and intensively farmed. Many dung beetle species endemic to the Cape Floral region show an extreme bias to occurrence in natural shrubland as opposed to farm pasture (Davis 1993). Species distribution modelling data suggest that by 2100 much of the suitable habitat for Epirinus will be restricted to higher elevations. As a flight-capable species which reaches high elevations, this species is likely to be more adaptable to this habitat shifting than flightless congeners (Daniel et al. 2021).

There is no use or trade information available for this species.

There are no species-specific conservation measures in place. Some protection is in existence in reserves that conserve natural montane shrubland patches on sandy soils, such as the Cape of Good Hope and Silvermine Nature Reserves that are now part of Table Mountain National Park. In this park, a dung supply is available through antelope, baboons and various other indigenous animals (Low and Rebelo 1998).