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

DOI
10.1006/jare.1996.0179
Publication Year
1997
Publication Site
Journal of Arid Environments
Journal Volume
35
Page Numbers
511–516
Family
Scarabaeidae
Species 1 Binomial
General topic
Ecology
Behaviour
Specific topic
dung type
Author

Al-Houty, Wasmia; Al-Musalam, Faten

Abstract Note

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.