Succession of Adult Coleoptera in Bovine Manure in East Central South Dakota1

Abstract

A two-year study was conducted in east central South Dakota to determine the species and succession pattern of adult Coleoptera in bovine manure. A total of 38 species, representing the families Histeridae, Hydrophilidae, Scarabaeidae and Staphylinidae, was collected. Three species, Platystethus americanus Erichson, Cercyon pygmaeus (Illiger), and C. quisquilius L., accounted for 50+% of all beetles recovered. Succession patterns indicated that hydrophilids immediately aggregated on the manure, but as the dung aged the number of hydrophilids decreased. The staphylinids occurred in greatest number on manure 72 hours old, and the scarabs on dung aged 47—72 hours. The histerids, which occurred in the fewest numbers, were found most frequently on 72-hr-old manure.