Spatial variation in the community structure of dung beetles (coleoptera scarabaeidae) in Kurukshetra, Haryana

To study the spatial variations of dung beetle abundance and community structure in and around Kurukshetra, surveys were conducted during the season (March-July) at two sites i. e. in villages Jhansa and Kirmach. The area chosen for study is mainly used for cultivation and has plenty of cattle dung and small stored dung heaps with trees scaterred along the pathways. Dung beetles were collected by baited pitfall traps and also manually. A total of 2152 dung beetles captured fall under 21 species, six genera and three sub-families. Some of the dominant species were Onthophagus falsus, Digitonthophagus bonasus, Onthophagus mopsus, Aphodius lividus, Digitonthophagus catta, Onitis subopacus and Aphodius moestus. In overall comparison to earlier records of dung beetles from the area, a decline in the fauna was recorded.