The necrophagous Scarabaeinae beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) from a coffee plantation in Chiapas, Mexico: Habits and phenology

The necrophagous Scarabaeinae beetles of a coffee-cacao plantation, near Cacaohatan, Chiapas, México, at 430 m altitude, were sampled during one year with a new model of bait trap (NTP-80). Samples were taken biweekly and yielded over 1,700 specimens of five species of Coprophanaeus, Phanaeus, Deltochilum, Onthophagus and Canthon during the study period. Onthophagus belorhinus was the most abundant species throughout the year. Most species were collected throughout the year without marked seasonal differences. Temperature in the area fluctuates little around 25°C and the rainfall averages above 100 mm monthly from spring to autumn. Humidity, shade, and temperature at the plantation floor resembles tropical rain forest conditions and allows for the activity of most of the copro-necrophagous and sapro-carpophagous beetles native to these areas.