Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) compete intensively for dung resources, and most species forage in the understory. Here, we describe the unique behavior of one dung beetle species, Canthon aff. quadriguttatus (Olivier), associated with two species of monkeys from Peru. We observed this beetle species on the genital and anal regions of the brown titi monkey, Callicebus brun...

Dung beetle community dynamics are determined by regional rainfall patterns. However, little is known about the temporal dynamics of these communities in tropical dry forests (TDFs). This study was designed to test the following predictions: 1) Peak diversity of dung beetle species occurs early in the wet season, with a decrease in diversity (α and β) and abundance throughout the season; 2) Nes...

Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) play a major role in nutrient cycling, soil aeration, and the biological control of pests and parasites that breed in manure. Habitat fragmentation, pesticide usage, and conventional agricultural practices are threats to dung beetle diversity, and their conservation is of growing concern. Comparison of organic and conventional ranching practices is of gre...

To determine if dung from various species of native mammals are attractive to species of Scarabaeidae differentially in a seasonal evergreen forest in Thailand, we used pitfall traps baited with fresh dung of four species (barking deer, sambar deer, Asian elephant, pig-tailed macaque) and an unbaited control. The pitfalls were deployed in Khao Yai National Park for 24 hours in March 2010. All t...

BACKGROUND This study aimed to evaluate the anti-aging effect of a newly prepared insect-derived compound, dung beetle glycosaminoglycan (GAG), given intraperitoneally to old SD rats as part of their diet for 1 month. Insect GAG administration was found to be related to a reduction in oxidative damage, hepato-cellular biomarker levels, protein carbonyl content, and malondialdehyde concentration...

Taphonomy is the study of many variables involving decomposition, preservation, dispersal, erosion, burial or exposition of dead organisms. Forensic Taphonomy examines how biotic or abiotic variables can change evidences in legal investigations. Many insects are closely associated with decomposition processes. The scavenger dung-beetle, Coprophanaeus lancifer (Linnaeus, 1767), may be important ...

Grazing extensification and intensification are among the main problems affecting European grasslands. We analyze the impact of grazing intensity (low and moderate) and the use of veterinary medical products (VMPs) on the dung beetle community in the province of Pesaro-Urbino (Italy). Grazing intensity is a key factor in explaining the diversity of dung beetles. In the case of the alpha diversi...

Research on dung beetles is uncovering surprising insights into both the history of this ancient family of insects and the value of the ecological services many species provide. For one, some dung beetles are far older than scientists realized. An Australian and Czech research team found molecular evidence that the scarab beetle subfamily Scarabaeinae evolved 115 million to 120 million years ag...

At midday, surface temperatures in the desert often exceed 60°C. To be active at this time, animals need extraordinary behavioural or physiological adaptations. Desert ants, for instance, spend up to 75% of their foraging time cooling down on elevated thermal refuges such as grass stalks. Ball-rolling dung beetles work under similar thermal conditions in South African savannahs. After landing a...

The demand for timber products is facilitating the degradation and opening up of large areas of intact habitats rich in biodiversity. Logging creates an extensive network of access roads within the forest, yet these are commonly ignored or excluded when assessing impacts of logging on forest biodiversity. Here we determine the impact of these roads on the overall condition of selectively logged...