Kleptoparasitic behaviour of Aphodius rufipes (L.) larvae in nests of Geotrupes spiniger Marsh. (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae)

Abstract

Abstract. Third instar larvae of A.rufipes were found in short vertical shafts in the soil beneath horse dung and they entered the underground brood masses of G.spiniger when these occurred beneath the same deposit of dung. A.rufipes larvae excavated shafts (60–80mm deep) beneath dung in cages. Just before diapause they burrowed down to the floor of the cage. Burrowing was inhibited in compact soil and in very dry soil. The feeding larvae were attracted to dung and to moisture and they readily attacked other larvae with their mandibles. In cages which contained G. spiniger nests the A.rufipes larvae burrowed down to feed on the G.spiniger brood masses. G.spiniger eggs and larvae did not act as attractants but they were often destroyed if the A.rufipes larvae encountered them by chance. In cages which contained G.stercorarxus nests A.fossor larvae burrowed down to feed on the brood masses if no dung was provided at the surface. This non‐obligatory parasitism arises from the normal behaviour of the larvae and is usually of trivial significance, but under certain conditions the protected environment of an underground nest may favour the survival of the invading larvae.

Effects of brood parasitism on host reproductive success: evidence from larval interactions among dung beetles

“…It has been proposed that brood parasites could cause death to host larvae directly through larval aggression (Hammond 1976 ;Klemperer 1980) or indirectly via a reduction of food resources for larvae, higher desiccation rates of brood masses, higher vulnerability of the host larvae to fungal infection, or sand grains entering the larval chamber and damaging the teguments of the larvae causing their death (Rougon and Rougon 1980a, 1980b, 1982. Our experiment showed that mortality of O. merdarius larvae was higher in treatments with aphodiid larvae additions (but independent of the number of larvae added), than in the treatment with holes (but without aphodiid larvae), suggesting that the presence of larvae, and not only their indirect effects, was responsible for the death of host larvae.…”

“…Larval interaction has been usually ignored except in beetles nesting directly inside the dung pat (Gittings and Giller 1999; but see Holter 1979;Hirschberger and Debro 1996;Hirschberger 1998). This occurs despite the fact that many brood parasitic species alternate different nesting strategies depending on the seasonal climatic conditions (Klemperer 1980;Rougon and Rougon 1980a), and there are even some strict parasitic species (Hammond 1976). Nevertheless, no study has quantified the actual effects that this interaction has on host survival and reproductive success and, therefore, the importance of this interaction as a factor influencing their populations.…”

“…Although brood parasitism have been repeatedly reported for dung beetles, this interaction has been considered accidental and anecdotal (Hammond 1976;Klemperer 1980;Rougon and Rougon 1980a;Doube 1990), presumably because larvae feed and grow belowground inside individual brood masses built by the adults. Larval interaction has been usually ignored except in beetles nesting directly inside the dung pat (Gittings and Giller 1999; but see Holter 1979;Hirschberger and Debro 1996;Hirschberger 1998).…”

“…Kleptoparasitism has been recorded in some dung beetle species which lay their eggs and undergo larval development in brood masses stored by other beetles (Chapman 1869;Hammond 1976;Klemperer 1980;Rougon and Rougon 1980a;Doube 1990;Cambefort and Hanski 1991;Davis 1996). Dung beetles use dung as food in both adult and larval stages.…”

Seasonal variations in numbers, biomass and breeding patterns of dung beettles [Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae] in Southern France

“…represented 55 % of individuals trapped but are not considered here because most do not bury dung (Kirk, unpublished data), some are not specific dung feeders (Carne, 1950 ;Sears, 1978), and some are kleptoparasitic, e.g. Aphodius porcus (F.) (Chapman, 1869(Chapman, , 1870 and occasionally A. rufipes (L.) (Klemperer, 1980). This study is restricted to species of the Scarabaeinae, and to the Geotrnpini tribe of the Geotrupidae.…”