Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) associated to cattle dung in Campo Grande, MS, Brazil

Abstract

This work was carried out in order to determinate the local fimiculous Staphylinidae species due to these predators and or parasites importance on the natural control of the dung associated bovine parasites. For that, fecal masses 1, 2 and 3 days old were weekly collected on a pasture of Brachiaria decumbens Stapf, from May 1990 through April 1992. The feces were conditioned in 15-liter opaque plastic buckets, containing lateral and top openings, where flasks were fastened for capturing Staphylinidae beetles present in these masses, during a 40-day period. After this period the soil and fecal masses from the buckets were examined and the remaining insects collected. A total of 13215 specimens were collected, belonging to 34 species. The following twelve Genera were observed: Oxytelus (3 species; 70.1% of the specimens collected); Falagria (1 sp.; 7.9); Aleochara (4 sp.; 5.8); Philonthus (3 sp.; 5.1); Atheta (2 sp.; 4.0); Cilea (2 sp.; 1.2); Neohypnus (1 sp.; 0.7); Lithocharis (1 sp.; 0.7); Heterothops (2 sp.; 0.6); Somoleptus (1 sp.; 0.08); Dibelonetes (1 sp.; 0.06) and, Dysanellus (1 sp.; 0.04). The seven most abundant, constant, and or frequent species, followed respectively by the percentage of collected specimens, were: Oxytelus sp.1 (38.8%); Oxytelus sp.2 (28.1); Falagria sp. (7.9); Philonthus sp.1 (4.1); Atheta sp.1 (3.7); Aleochara sp.1 (3.6), and Oxytelus sp.3 (3.2). Twelve species (3.6% of the collected specimens) were determined as far as family only.