Abstract
Seasonal variations in numbers and biomass and breeding of 28 species ofScarabaeidae-Scarabaeinae andGeotrupidae were studied at 2 temperate sites and 2 mediterranean sites in southern France in 1978 and 1979, using cattle-dung baited pitfall traps. Maximum dung burial occurred when females were parous and ovipositiong (i.e. during spring at the mediterranean sites and summer at the temperate sites). Using biomass as a measure of dung burial the most important spring active beetles at the mediterranean sites were:Budas bison, B. bubalus, Scarabaeus laticollis, Onthophagus lemur andCopris hispanus, and at the temperate sites:C. lunaris, O. vacca, andO. ovatus. These results confirmed the previous choice ofC. hispanus, C. lunaris, B. bison andO. vacca for introduction into Australia. In addition it is suggested thatB. bubalus, S. laticollis andO. lemur be considered for introduction into mediterranean areas of south western Australia to complement those species already introduced for bush fly control.
Résumé
Les variations saisonnières dans le nombre, la biomasse et l'élevage de 28 espèces deScarabaeidaeScarabaeinae etGeotrupidae ont été étudiées dans 2 localités tempérées et 2 méditerranéennes du sud de la France en 1978 et 1979 au moyen de pièges fosses appâtés avec de la bouse de vache. L'enfouissement de bouse maximum avait lieu quand les femelles pondaient (c'est-à-dire durant le printemps dans les localités méditerranéennes, et au cours de l'été dans les localités tempérées). En employant la biomasse pour mesurer l'enfouissement de bouse, les bousiers actifs au printemps les plus importants dans les situations méditerranéennes étaient:Bubas bison, B. bubalus, Scarabaeus laticollis, Onthophagus lemur etCopris hispanus et dans les localités tempérées:C. lunaris, O. vacca, etO. ovatus. Ces résultats confirmaient le choix antérieur deC. hispanus, C. lunaris, B. bison etO. vacca pour introduire en Australie. En supplément on suggère queB. bubalus, S. laticollis etO. lemur soient envisagés pour leur introduction dans les régions méditerranéennes du sud-ouest de l'Australie pour compléter ces espèces déjà introduites pour la lutte contre la mouche de la brousse.
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Kirk, A.A., Wallace, M.M.H. Seasonal variations in numbers, biomass and breeding patterns of dung beettles [Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae] in Southern France. Entomophaga 35, 569–581 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02375091
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02375091