The biology of Bubas bison (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in southern France and its potential for recycling dung in Australia

The biology of B. bison (L.) was studied in southern France. It was active from Sept. to the end of May. Adult emergence lasted from Sept.-Jan.; 8% of the female population was parous and laying eggs in Sept., and 100% were parous from Feb. to the end of June. Females exhibited extraovariolar egg resorption, which may have been a response to adverse conditions. Eggs laid in Oct., Nov., Feb. and March hatched synchronously in May. Adults resulting from eggs laid in March emerged in early Sept. The rate of oviposition varied from 0.03 egg/day in June. to 0.5 m in March. Females stopped laying eggs for 3 wk in Jan. The structure of the nests formed from buried dung brood-masses was studied. Each brood-mass contained 2 eggs, 1 at each pole. About 12 brood-masses were formed under each dung pad in Oct. 1981. The mean length of each mass was 96 mm and the dry weight 10.5 g. The mean number of masses in a nest was 2.4, with a mean number of 4.9 nests under each dung pad. The dry weight of dung buried under a pad in Oct. 1981 was 123.9 g, 66.6% of the mean dry weight of an experimental dung pad. B. bison has the potential for recycling large amounts of [cattle] dung in climatic areas of Australia [to control the pests Musca vetustissima and Haematobia irritans exigua] equivalent to southern France.