Dung preference of the dung beetle Scarabaeus cristatus Fab (Coleoptera-Scarabaeidae) from Kuwait

Authors: Al-Houty W.; Al-Musalam F.

Source: Journal of Arid Environments, Volume 35, Number 3, 1997 , pp. 511-516(7)

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Abstract:

Adult dung beetles, Scarabaeus cristatus , consume the fluid components of dung and bury whole dung as food for their larvae. When dung from three herbivorous animals, horse, camel and sheep, was offered, the beetles preferred the more fluid horse dung to the others. Sheep dung was preferred to the camel dung. The dungs of two carnivores, dog and fox, were also accepted but to a lesser extent than the herbivore dung.

Keywords: dung; dung beetle; Scarabaeus cristatus; Kuwait

Language: English

Document Type: Research article

Affiliations: Department of Zoology - Faculty of Science, Kuwait University, Safat, 13060, Kuwait

Publication date: 1997-01-01