Consideracoes sobre Coprophanaeus ensifer (Germar) (Coleoptera, Scarabaeidae) em um remanescente de Mata Atlantica no Estado da Paraiba, Brasil

Insects of the family Scarabaeidae feed on organic matter in decomposition, participating actively in biogeocycling of nutrients. C. ensifer is a large-sized necrophagous beette that occurs in tropical forests. In the present work we aimed to record some ecological characteristics of this species regarding the seasonality and bait attractivity. Thirteen samples were performed between December/1998 and December/1999 in the Mata do Buraquinho, a remnant of the Atlantic Forest in João Pessoa, PB. Seventy-one specimens were captured in four baited pitfall traps: 35 on pork meat, 22 on kidney, and 14 on bovine meat. There was no significant difference among the baits with respect to their stimuli for attracting the insects. No specimens of C. ensifer were trapped on baits of liver. The monthly abundance of insects is positively correlated the precipitation (r s=0,65; p<0,05) and humidity (rs=0,55; p<0,05) and inversely with temperature (r s=-0,70; p<0,01). The specimens were collected only from April to September, within the rainy period, an aspect that corroborates the seasonal pattern of occurrence.