Bush fly, Musca vetustissima Walker (Diptera: Muscidae), control in relation to seasonal abundance of scarabaeine dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in south-western Australia

1988 ◽  
Vol 78 (4) ◽  
pp. 633-639 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Ridsdill-Smith ◽  
J. N. Matthiessen
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Cattle Dung ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Additional Species

AbstractSeasonal patterns of abundance of Musca vetustissima Walker and scarabaeine dung beetles were measured at Busselton in south-western Australia for two years before and three years after, the introduction and establishment of two species of summer-active dung beetles, Oniticellus pallipes (F.) and Onthophagus binodis (Thunberg). Previously, only a single winter-active native dung beetle species, O. ferox Harold, occurred in this area. The mean dry weight of dung beetles trapped in December (early summer) was unaffected by the establishment of the additional species, and fly populations remained high. In January, however, dung beetle dry weight increased more than 60-fold and M. vetustissima abundance fell to 12% of its previous value, essentially halving the duration of major fly problems in the area. Virtually no flies emerged from cattle dung after December, when dung beetle activity reduced egg-adult survival of M. vetustissima to only 0·5%. It is proposed that better M. vetustissima control could be achieved in much of south-western Australia by introducing additional dung beetle species that are abundant in November and December.

Field assessments of the impact of night-flying dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) on the bush fly, Musca Vetustissima Walker (Diptera: Muscidae), in south-western Australia

1984 ◽  
Vol 74 (2) ◽  
pp. 191-195 ◽  
Author(s):  
T. J. Ridsdill Smith ◽  
J. N. Matthiessen
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Cattle Dung ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe effect of excluding the night-flying dung fauna, which included one abundant species of dung beetle (Scarabaeidae) in each of two areas, on the numbers of Musca vetustissima Wlk. emerging from cattle dung pads was studied in south-western Australia. Fresh dung pads were exposed to natural, daytime oviposition by M. vetustissima and half were covered at night. A test at one site before dung beetles emerged showed no effect of other nocturnal fauna on fly survival. In three experiments where Onthophagus ferox Har. was excluded, the numbers of flies emerging increased from 679 to 1019 per dung pad. In five experiments where Onitis alexis Klug was excluded, the number of flies emerging increased from 14 to 33 per dung pad. The mortality contributed by Onthophagus ferox was estimated to be around 27% and that by Onitis alexis around 15%.

Dung burial by native and introduced dung beetles (Scarabaeidae)

1994 ◽  
Vol 45 (8) ◽  
pp. 1799 ◽  
Author(s):  
M Tyndale-Biscoe
Keyword(s):  
Introduced Species ◽  
Native Species ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
South Eastern ◽  
Eastern Australia ◽  
South Eastern Australia

The quantity of dung buried and shredded by dung beetles at four sites in south-eastern Australia was found to be positively correlated with the dry weight (biomass) of beetles in the pads. Each of the four sites has two abundant native species of dung beetles, and one to five well-established introduced species present. At Uriarra, where only one introduced species is common, a mean of 7 . 2 l � 1.94% (1990-91) and 6.01�1.31% (1991-92) of the dung was buried per week. At Fyshwick, with two common introduced species of dung beetles, 22.27� 4.03% (1990-91) and 12 04�2 72% (1991-92) of the dung was buried per week. Braidwood, with four introduced species, had a mean of 15.81� 2.82% (1991-92) weekly dung buried, and Araluen, with five introduced species, had 30.18�8- 73% (1992-93) dung buried per week. Dung beetle numbers were low at all sites during the first half of 1991-92 season due to a drought throughout the region. Dung shredding averaged less than 12% over the seasons at all sites, but fluctuated from 0 to 70%, depending mainly on beetle numbers in the dung pads on individual occasions. Increasing numbers of exotic dung beetles throughout the pastoral areas of Australia should result in increased amounts of dung buried and shredded, with correspondingly increased benefits to Australian agriculture.

Development and larval diapause in the southern African dung beetle Onitis caffer Boheman (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

1986 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 109-117 ◽  
Author(s):  
Penelope B. Edwards
Keyword(s):  
Adult Development ◽  
Development Time ◽  
Larval Instar ◽  
Summer Rainfall ◽  
Dry Weight ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Cattle Dung ◽  
Winter Rainfall ◽  
The Third ◽  
Larval Diapause

AbstractThe development of Onitis caffer Boheman in cattle dung was studied in the laboratory. The larvae feed on the dung in which the eggs are laid. Egg to adult development at 25°C was completed in 24·7 weeks by a strain from a winter rainfall (WR) area of South Africa and 29·4 weeks by a strain from a summer rainfall (SR) area, and occurred without diapause. Maximum larval dry weight was achieved mid-way through the third larval instar, after which the larva emptied much of its gut to form a protective faecal shell, in which pupation occurred. At 20°C, 20% of WR larvae developed without diapause and the adults emerged after 33·5 weeks, whereas the remaining 80% of adults emerged after 80·1 weeks. In the SR strain, 70% emerged after 37·1 weeks without having entered diapause, while the remaining 30% emerged after 83·8 weeks. Thus, the period of diapause for both strains was 47 weeks and occurred in the third larval instar. At 15°C, 74% of WR larvae had pupated by 153 weeks, with a mean development time of 121·8 weeks. Zero development temperatures were 10·4°C (WR) and 10·1°C (SR), and day-degree requirements for development without diapause at 20°C were 2251 (WR) and 2571 (SR).

Avermectin residues in sheep and cattle dung and their effects on dung-beetle (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) colonization and dung burial

1991 ◽  
Vol 81 (3) ◽  
pp. 333-339 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. Wardhaugh ◽  
R. J. Mahon
Keyword(s):  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Post Treatment ◽  
Toxic Effects ◽  
Cattle Dung ◽  
Field Observations ◽  
Pitfall Traps ◽  
Fly Larvae ◽  
Newly Hatched Larvae

AbstractData from dung-baited pitfall traps show that dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) do not discriminate against dung from sheep or cattle treated with avermectin. On the contrary, for a period post-treatment, dung from animals treated with avermectin attracted more beetles than dung from untreated animals. This effect was more marked with cattle dung than with sheep dung. The period of enhanced attractiveness of sheep dung was restricted to dung produced during the first day after treatment, whereas with cattle dung, the effect was still evident in faeces produced 25 days after treatment. Cattle dung produced from 3–25 days post-treatment caused 100% mortality in newly hatched larvae of the bushfly, Musca vetustissima Walker (Diptera:Muscidae). In dung of day 35, mortality was 93.6%. Dung collected from sheep from 1–6 days after treatment also caused 100% mortality of fly larvae, but by day 28, no toxic effects were detectable. Field observations on the colonization of cattle pats confirmed the enhanced attractiveness of dung from treated animals and suggested that departure rates from treated dung were lower than those from untreated dung. Treated pats supported higher beetle populations than untreated pats and burial was more rapid. The potentially serious implications of the enhanced attractiveness of avermectincontaminated dung are discussed in relation to the survival of dung beetle communities.

scholarly journals New records of relictual populations of dung beetle species (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) in the Atlantic Forest of the Brazilian Northeast

Check List ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. 1289-1303
Author(s):  
Josival Francisco Araújo ◽  
Fernando Augusto Barbosa Silva ◽  
Rita de Cássia de Moura
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
New Records ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Northeastern Brazil ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Brazilian Northeast

The diversity of dung beetles is still underestimated in northeastern Brazil. Recent collections have revealed new records of the following species: Canthon histrio (Lepeletier de Saint-Fargeau & Audinet-Serville, 1828), Coprophanaeus acrisius (MacLeay, 1819), Coprophanaeus dardanus (MacLeay, 1819), Deltochilum alpercata Silva et al., 2015, Deltochilum brasiliense (Castelnau, 1840), Dichotomius gilletti Valois et al., 2017, Dichotomius iannuzziae Valois et al., 2017, Eurysternus calligrammus Dalman, 1824, Eurysternus parallelus Castelnau, 1840, Oxysternon silenus Castelnau, 1840, and Phanaeus splendidulus (Fabricius, 1781). These records are discussed in light of the known biogeography of each species.

scholarly journals Dung burial by roller dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae): An individual and specific-level study

2018 ◽  
Vol 38 (04) ◽  
pp. 373-380
Author(s):  
R. L. Carvalho ◽  
F. Frazão ◽  
R.S. Ferreira–Châline ◽  
J. Louzada ◽  
L. Cordeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Distinct Species ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Individual Species ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Ecological Functions ◽  
Ecological Processes ◽  
Specific Level ◽  
Burial Rates ◽  
The Individual

AbstractDung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeinae) mediate many ecological functions that are important to maintain the ecosystem functioning of terrestrial environments. Although a large amount of literature explores the dung beetle-mediated ecological processes, little is known about the individual contribution from distinct species. Here, we aimed to examine the intra and interspecific variations in dung burial rates performed by two roller dung beetle species (Canthon smaragdulus Fabricius, 1781 and Canthon sulcatus Castelnau, 1840). Furthermore, we evaluated the relationship between dung beetle biomass and dung burial rates. We set up a laboratorial experiment with three treatments (two males, two females, and a couple) and 10 replicates per treatment for each dung beetle species, and dung burial rates were measured after exposing 100 g of mixed pig and human excrement for 48 hours. Our results demonstrate that dung burial rates of males, females, and couples within each species do not differ. However, C. smaragdulus individuals performed a larger dung burial than C. sulcatus individuals did. In addition, we found no effect of individual biomass on the amount of dung burial on intra and interspecific levels. These findings highlight the need for further research considering that distinct species, even from the same genus, may perform different rates of ecological processes, as well as about the importance for considering the beetle biomass when measuring their ecological functions. We call for studies to fill in the knowledge gap about the individual species’ contribution to the maintenance of different dung beetle-mediated ecological processes.

Egg to adult survival of the bush fly, Musca vetustissima Walker (Diptera: Muscidae), in irrigated pastures when flood-caused mortality is prevented

1986 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 59-62 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. Matthiessen ◽  
L. Hayles
Keyword(s):  
Western Australia ◽  
Adult Survival ◽  
Cattle Dung ◽  
Irrigation Period ◽  
Western Australian ◽  
Australian Summer

AbstractSurvival of Musca vetustissima Walker from egg to adult in nutritious cattle dung from pasture irrigated during the dry south-western Australian summer was measured in the field. When drowning was prevented by placing dung on a low embankment, survival was high for only the first two months of the fly season, which included the first month of the five-month irrigation period. Substantial emergence of wild M. vetustissima adults from naturally- infested dung occurred only around that time. Survival was so low during the last four months of irrigation, even in the absence of mortality caused by drowning, that irrigated pasture areas in south-western Australia are unlikely to have significantly greater potential for breeding of M. vetustissima than non-irrigated pastures during most of the summer.

A limiting factor in the abundance of predatory phoretic mites (Acari: Macrochelidae): the seasonal abundance of their phorionts (dung beetles) in southern France

2003 ◽  
Vol 81 (12) ◽  
pp. 2066-2072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Habiba Glida ◽  
Michel Bertrand ◽  
Valérie Peyrusse
Keyword(s):  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Meteorological Conditions ◽  
Seasonal Abundance ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Southern France ◽  
Fly Control ◽  
Group Species

The effects of host (dung beetles; Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) activity on seasonal abundance of phoretic mites (predatory macrochelids) were investigated in experimental dung pads under Mediterranean climatic conditions. Macrocheles robustulus and Macrocheles merdarius were collected only in spring and autumn. The most abundant macrochelids (Macrocheles glaber group; >90%) were rare in the hottest days and during winter. Mite abundance and dung beetle activity were correlated. The distribution (aggregate or not) of macrochelids in both pads and beetle traps was interpreted as a consequence of the availability of carriers that were found greatly affected by unfavourable meteorological conditions (temperature and rainfall). By their abundance and because they are opportunistic in the choice of host, the M. glaber group species can be considered the most efficient in coprophilous fly control.

scholarly journals Areas of endemism in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest based on the distribution of dung beetles (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae, Scarabaeinae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 110 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jorge L. da Silva ◽  
Fernando Z. Vaz-de-Mello
Keyword(s):  
Atlantic Forest ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Grid Size ◽  
Brazilian Atlantic Forest ◽  
Beetle Species ◽  
Distributional Patterns ◽  
Areas Of Endemism ◽  
Definition Of ◽  
Different Levels

ABSTRACT Our goals were to determine whether the pattern of geographical distribution of dung beetles in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest (BAF), Southeast Brazil, supports the identification of the areas of endemism in this biome, how the number and boundaries of the areas of endemism vary with the spatial scale used in the analysis, if the areas of endemism identified here are consistent with previous proposals described in the literature. We used the analysis of endemicity (NDM) on the distributional patterns of 198 species and subspecies of dung beetles in order to identify areas of endemism into grids of 0.25°x0.25°, 0.5°x0.5° and 1°x1°. A total of 15 consensus areas (CA) were identified with the different grid sizes employed (two of 0.25°, three of 0.5° and 10 of 1°). Our results support the assumptions about the influence of the grid size, since a smaller number of CA were identified for the 0.25° grids (02 CA), whereas by increasing the size of the units, there was an increase in the number of the areas of endemism (10 CA of 1°). Despite different levels of geographical congruence, the areas of endemism located in the BAF described elsewhere are corroborate, all or part of them. The overlap of these CA allowed the definition of three generalized areas of endemism: Southeast, Central and Southwest. These generalized areas encompassed habitats with great environmental variety, potentially influencing the levels of endemism of species of dung beetles. Furthermore, they were corroborated by other areas of endemism described in the literature, allowing us to argue that processes forming these regions have influenced dung beetle species as described for other groups of organisms.

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