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

Kirk, Alan A.; Wallace, M. M. H.

doi:10.1007/bf02375091

Cited by 5 publications

(3 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Kirk & Ridsdiil-Smith (1986) working in Spain found that climate best separated beetle species and little further separation was accounted for by dung type, soil and altitude. Work carried out by Lumaret & Kirk (1991) and Kirk & Wallace (1990), in the western Mediterranean region has highlighted the role of seasonality which leads to significant differences in the rate of dung utilization by beetles throughout the year. These aspects of dung beetle activity impinge upon fly development within dung pads.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The effect of the dung pad fauna on the emergence ofMusca tempestiva [Dipt.: Muscidae] from dung pads in southern France

Kirk¹

1992

Entomophaga

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The emergence of Musca tempestiva Fall6n, from cow pads in southern France was reduced by a mean of 98 % and 96 % respectively in nine experiments concluded in 1979 and 1981, by the action of the complete dung fauna. Fauna emerging from dung pads and captured in simultaneous trapping using dung baited pitfall traps consisted of 13 Dipterous species (9 Muscidae, 2 Sepsidae and 2 Sphaeroceridae), 25 Coleopterous species (7 Scarabaeidae, 1 Geotrupidae, 2 Aphodiidae, 3 Hydrophilidae, 12 Staphylinidae), 3 Hymenopterous parasites and 1 species of macrochelid and 2 species of parasitoid mites carried phoretically by the dung beetles. The total number of insects and mites per trap was usually small. The Staphylinidae which included 4 Aleochara species of which Aleochara tristits Gravenhorst and A. bipustulata (L.) are known parasitoids of Diptera pupae, and 6 predatory species, were the most abundant insects present. Whilst the overall abundance of insects and mites trapped was relatively low it is probable that the most important factor in the control of M. tempestiva was the combined influence of the different elements making up the dung pad fauna.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 97%

The effect of the dung pad fauna on the emergence ofMusca tempestiva [Dipt.: Muscidae] from dung pads in southern France

Kirk¹

1992

Entomophaga

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“…Insects were starved for 12 h prior to testing. Assays were started at 1500 h because of the documented evening and night activity of B. bison [48][49][50]. To initiate the assay, three pairs of beetles were released into the center of the arena at the release point.…”

Section: Olfactory Responses Of B Bison To Dung Volatilesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Contrasting Volatilomes of Livestock Dung Drive Preference of the Dung Beetle Bubas bison (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

et al. 2022

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Volatile cues can play a significant role in the location and discrimination of food resources by insects. Dung beetles have been reported to discriminate among dung types produced by different species, thereby exhibiting behavioral preferences. However, the role of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in dung localization and preference remains largely unexplored in dung beetles. Here we performed several studies: firstly, cage olfactometer bioassays were performed to evaluate the behavioral responses of Bubas bison (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) to VOCs emanating from fresh horse, sheep, and cattle dung; secondly, concurrent volatilome analysis was performed to characterize volatilomes of these dung types. Bubas bison adults exhibited greater attraction to horse dung and less attraction to cattle dung, and they preferred dung from horses fed a pasture-based diet over dung from those fed lucerne hay. Volatilomes of the corresponding dung samples from each livestock species contained a diverse group of alkanes, alkenes, alkynes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, phenols, and sulfurous compounds, but the composition and abundance of annotated VOCs varied with dung type and livestock diet. The volatilome of horse dung was the most chemically diverse. Results from a third study evaluating electroantennogram response and supplementary olfactometry provided strong evidence that indole, butyric acid, butanone, p-cresol, skatole, and phenol, as well as toluene, are involved in the attraction of B. bison to dung, with a mixture of these components significantly more attractive than individual constituents.

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“…Ecosystem services that result from this removal of dung include nutrient cycling, increased soil organic matter and control of pests and parasites, including flies and gastrointestinal nematodes (Menéndez et al, 2016; Veldhuis et al, 2018). This, and the fact that many dung beetles are considered environmental indicator species (Davis et al, 2004), has led to much research into this group globally (Bryan, 1973; Bryan & Kerr, 1989; Feehan et al, 1985; Kirk & Wallace, 1990; Ridsdill‐Smith & Hayles, 1990; Sands & Wall, 2016). One focus area of this research has been identifying preferences of dung beetles for different dung types.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A simple technique to assess resource use in dung beetle breeding studies

Lewis,

Berson,

Didham

et al. 2023

Ecological Entomology

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Current methods for identifying resource preferences in dung beetles are based on above‐ground trials. Although useful, these methods do not directly investigate resource provisioning of offspring below ground, missing an important part of dung beetle ecology. We tested the potential for UV‐fluorescent and non‐fluorescent coloured glitters to be used as markers for tracing the origin of dung incorporated into brood balls (dung shaped by parental beetles enclosing an egg), and so aid in a more complete understanding of resource use in dung beetles. We tested the effect of glitter addition on brood ball production in two species of tunnelling dung beetles, Onthophagus taurus and Euoniticellus fulvus. There was no effect of glitter addition on brood ball production during no‐choice tests for each species: both species made a similar number of brood balls, regardless of glitter presence or glitter colour. In a separate choice trial, O. taurus showed no preference for dung when presented with four dung pats containing four unique glitter colours. Here we show that glitter can be used as an effective marker of individual brood ball origin in tunnelling dung beetles. This method provides a useful tool for tracking below ground resource use and larval provisioning experiments in dung beetles.

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

Cited by 5 publications

References 8 publications

The effect of the dung pad fauna on the emergence ofMusca tempestiva [Dipt.: Muscidae] from dung pads in southern France

The effect of the dung pad fauna on the emergence ofMusca tempestiva [Dipt.: Muscidae] from dung pads in southern France

Contrasting Volatilomes of Livestock Dung Drive Preference of the Dung Beetle Bubas bison (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

A simple technique to assess resource use in dung beetle breeding studies

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