Specimens from the two northern localities exhibit morphological differences from those from the southern sites, and their correct identification was unclear when Davis et al. (2020) went to press. Abdalla et al. (2018) subsequently resolved this issue, confirming that one of these - at Kommandokraal Farm - corresponds to Macroderes foveatus (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023).

A dead female specimen of uncertain identity has been recorded from the coast close to Vredendal (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023), very close to Kommandokraal. Fresh specimens, or diagnosable males, are needed from this locality to confirm whether this represents M. foveatus.

This species is listed as Endangered on the basis that this species has an extent of occurrence below 5,000 km² and is known from four localities, each likely to correspond to a single location, within a largely unprotected and somewhat transformed area (with most records having been taken from the heavily transformed south) and, while nothing is known of its ecological requirements, on a precautionary basis it is assumed to be subject to an ongoing decline in the extent and quality of its habitat driven by land clearance and invasive acacia.

This species is known with certainty from three localities in the southwest coastal sands of South Africa (Davis et al. 2020, C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023), and from Kommandokraal Farm in Namaqualand Sand Fynbos that lies further north along the coast (Abdalla et al. 2018, A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). The northernmost known locality lies at the edge of the range of the closely related Macroderes cornutus (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023), suggesting that it is unlikely to be more widespread to the north than presently known. It has been recorded between 2 and 49-50 m asl in the south (Davis et al. 2020, C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023). Kommandokraal lies at about 84 m asl (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023).

The type series was collected in 2003. At the most recently-identified locality, Velddriff, it was collected in ones or twos per 10 pig dung-baited traps during surveys in August 2016 (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023). As a flightless species, subpopulations will only be sampled if present in immediate proximity to traps.

Nothing is known of this species' ecology, except for its occurrence in sand fynbos bioregions. Other members of this genus appear to be associated with dense vegetation (Davis et al. 2020). It is flightless and has been collected in August, sampled from human dung bait (Davis et al. 2020) and pig dung. During sampling at Velddriff, excretions were observed that may be a sign of carrion feeding (C. Deschodt and A. Davis pers. comm. 2023).

Mean annual precipitation at two southern localities is between 244 and 266 mm, and mean annual temperature is between 16.5–16.7 °C (Davis et al. 2020). The climate is similar but slightly different in Kommandokraal. It has been proposed that Macroderes species may be particularly associated with earth mounds known as heuweltjies: water-retaining, nutrient-rich structures that attract rodents whose dung may be a key resource for these beetles (Abdalla et al. 2018). These are present at both Kommandokraal and Veldgriff (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023).

In the south, this species is known from Hopefield Sand Fynbos, within which 40% of the original natural vegetation had been lost by 2006 due to arable and pastoral farming, and only around 2% is protected (Davis et al. 2020, A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). Invasive acacia species are continuing to spread through this area (Mucina and Rutherford 2006). Namaqualand Sand Fynbos is less disturbed (having lost only 2% of the original vegetation to cultivation), but sheep grazing is widespread and only 1% of this vegetation unit is protected (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). Kommandokraal is dominated by sustainable farming (mainly sheep grazing) which is not expected to impact this species, however should overgrazing occur this could lead to soil desiccation as a result of vegetation removal (A. Davis pers. comm. 2023). There may also be diamond mining at or near Kommandokraal (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023).

Dung beetles adapted to the cool, arid winter rainfall region of western South Africa may be at elevated risk from the predicted impacts of climate change, which may result in temperature-driven changes to seasonal rainfall patterns and increase annual precipitation (Davis and Scholz 2020). This may facilitate the expansion of warm-adapted species from the northeast into presently unsuitable areas (Davis and Scholz 2020).

There is presumably no use of or trade in this species.

This species is not known from any protected areas. Surveys are needed to clarify the species' distribution, occupancy patterns and ecological associations (including whether clearance of natural shrubland affects population densities) (Davis et al. 2020). Food associations are generally unknown for this group (which has been found on varied dung types in small numbers, with possible circumstantial evidence of carrion feeding) and research is recommended for the genus to clarify these (C. Deschodt pers. comm. 2023).