DUNG BEETLES (SCARABAEIDAE: SCARABAEINAE AND APHODIINAE) ACTIVE IN FOREST HABITATS IN SOUTHWESTERN AUSTRALIA DURING WINTER

Abstract

The abundance of dung beetles (Scarabaeidae:Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae) during winter was estimated from captures at dung and carrion baited pitfall traps at 40 sites in native heath and forest habitats in the south of southwestern Australia. Beetles were attracted predominantly to dung baits. Of the 17 species trapped 16 occurred in heath, 10 in open forest (jarrah) and 10 in tall open forest (karri) habitats. Beetles of the tribes Onthophagini and Aphodiini were attracted predominantly to dung baits and were more abundant in heath and open forest than in tall open forest, while beetles of the tribe Scarabaeini were attracted equally to dung and carrion baits, and their abundance did not differ significantly in the three habitat types. Copyright © 1983, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved