Succession of Scarabaeidae on bovine dung in Itumbiara, Goias, Brazil

The succession of Scarabaeidae in cattle dung deposited in pasture were observed from January to August 2001 in Itumbiara County, State of Goiás, Brazil (18o25'S; 49o13'W). Fresh cattle dung pats were exposed on a pasture area for one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight, nine and ten days and then taken individually to the laboratory for screening and identification of the Scarabaeidae therein present. A total of 100 dung pads were exposed in the field from which 3,229 specimens of Scarabaeidae were recovered. The most frequent species found were: Ataenius aequalis Harold and Aphodius lividus Balth. The majority of specimens were collected in cattle dung exposed for one and two days.