DOI
10.1649/0010-065X(2002)056[0097:AAHOTD]2.0.CO;2
Publication Year
2002
Publication Site
The Coleopterists Bulletin
Journal Volume
56
Page Numbers
97–106
Family
Scarabaeidae
Species 1 Binomial
General topic
Morphology
Abstract Note
This paper describes the morphology and histology of the adult digestive system of Cephalodesmius armiger Westwood (Scarabaeini), a beetle that manufactures compost out of plant matter. This species' digestive system is compared to those of genera Phanaeus, Coprophanaeus and Copris (Coprini), that feed on vertebrate dung. The major finding reported in this study is that C. armiger has a sac-like colon, a structure similar to the fermentation chamber of phytophagous beetles, not found in other Scarabaeinae.