Evaluation of the attraction, lethal and sublethal effects of the faeces of ivermectin‐treated cattle on the dung beetle Digit onthophagus gazella (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

2020 ◽  
Vol 59 (2) ◽  
pp. 368-374
Author(s):  
Roger I Rodríguez‐Vivas ◽  
Gertrudis S Basto‐Estrella ◽  
Enrique Reyes‐Novelo ◽  
Andreyna Arisbe Arceo‐Moran ◽  
William R Arcila‐Fuentes ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Onthophagus Gazella

The effects of dung beetle activity on the numbers of parasitic gastrointestinal helminth larvae recovered from pasture samples

1973 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 161 ◽  
Author(s):  
RP Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Soil Moisture ◽  
Parasitic Nematode ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Dung Beetles ◽  
Percentage Reduction ◽  
Faecal Material ◽  
Gastrointestinal Helminth ◽  
Nematode Eggs ◽  
Cattle Faeces ◽  
Onthophagus Gazella

Studies have been made of the effect of the dung beetle, Onthophagus gazella, on the release of strongyle larvae from cattle faeces onto pasture. A series of faecal pats containing parasitic nematode eggs was placed on pasture, and beetles were added to some pats to give three levels of beetle activity, viz. 100 g, 200-250 g, and 500 g of faeces per pair of beetles. These pats were duplicated on irrigated and non-irrigated pasture. In both cases the numbers of strongyle larvae migrating from pats attacked by dung beetles were significantly less than those migrating from control pats containing no dung beetles. Compared with larval recoveries from control pats, the percentage reduction in numbers of larvae migrating from pats on irrigated pasture was 50% for pats of 100 g faeces per pair of beetles, 48 % for pats of 200-250 g faeces per pair, and 84% for pats of 500 g of faeces per pair. The respective figures for pats on nonirrigated pasture were 76, 86, and 93 % reduction in larval numbers. The results indicated that strongyle larvae migrated from faecal material buried by dung beetles, provided soil moisture was adequate. More larvae were recovered from the pasture surrounding irrigated faecal pats attacked by beetles than from the non-irrigated pats. During warm dry weather, surface faecal debris remaining after beetlc attack appeared to be helminthologically sterile.

scholarly journals African dung beetle Onthophagus gazella Fabricius (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) esterase isozymes

2001 ◽  
Vol 61 (4) ◽  
pp. 645-650 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. MARTINS ◽  
E. P. B. CONTEL
Keyword(s):  
Pupal Stage ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Esterase Isozymes ◽  
Onthophagus Gazella

African beetles Onthophagus gazella from both sexes were analyzed by electrophoresis for an investigation of esterase isozymes using alpha-naphthyl propionate and methylumbelliferyl propionate as substrates. Only one of the esterases (Est. 6) reacted with one of the substrates (alpha-naphthyl propionate). Six areas of activity were found, two of them being polymorphic (Est. 3 and Est. 4). For presence of Est. 3, 337 individuals were analyzed, including descendants of 32 controlled crossings: two alleles were identified, whose frequencies are Est. 3A = 0.447 and Est. 3B = 0.553. The population is in equilibrium for this locus (qui-square = 4.18; 0.2 > P > 0.1). For Est. 4, 338 individuals, descendants of 32 controlled crossings, were analysed. In this case, three alleles were identified whose frequencies are: Est. 4A = 0.277; Est. 4B = 0.661; and Est. 4C = 0.062. The population is not in equilibrium for this locus (qui-square = 40.259; p < 0.001). Two esterases were detected only in the pupal stage and another one in larvae. Of the 23 loci analyzed in these insects up to now, 3 are polymorphic (13%), which indicates very low variability in the population here studied.

The effect of the dung beetle, Onthophagus gazella, on the ecology of the infective larvae of gastrointestinal nematodes of cattle

1976 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 567 ◽  
Author(s):  
RP Bryan
Keyword(s):  
Temperature Variation ◽  
External Environment ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Gastrointestinal Nematodes ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Faecal Material ◽  
Infective Larvae ◽  
Nematode Larvae ◽  
Extremes Of Temperature ◽  
Onthophagus Gazella

The ecology of nematode larvae infective for cattle was studied in the vicinity of standardized dung pats experimentally exposed lo the dung beetle, Onthophagus gazella. In moist climatic conditions two, 10 and 30 pairs of O . Gazella reduced the numbers of larvae on grass surrounding dung pats by 40, 74 and 66% respectively, compared with control pats not exposed to beetles. After 84 days, many larvae remained in control pats and pats attacked by two pairs of beetles, but few were found in other pat types. Infective larvae survived for at least 84 days in soil and buried faecal material, and larval migration through soil occurred. The daily temperature variation within dung beetle burrows was considerably less than that of the external environment. This insulation against extremes of temperature probably contributed to the longevity of buried larvae.

scholarly journals Reproductive sublethal effects of macrocyclic lactones and synthetic pyrethroids on the dung beetle Onthophagus similis

2019 ◽  
Vol 110 (2) ◽  
pp. 195-200
Author(s):  
H. Weaving ◽  
B. Sands ◽  
R. Wall
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Cattle Dung ◽  
Synthetic Pyrethroids ◽  
Macrocyclic Lactones ◽  
Pitfall Trapping ◽  
Livestock Farming ◽  
Gravid Females ◽  
The Impact

AbstractDung-colonizing beetles provide a range of ecosystem services in farmland pasture systems. However, such beetles are declining in Northern temperate regions. This may, in part, be due to the widespread use of macrocyclic lactones (MLs) and synthetic pyrethroids (SPs) in livestock farming. These chemicals are used to control pests and parasites of cattle; the residues of which are excreted in dung at concentrations toxic to insects. While the lethal effects of such residues are well known, sublethal effects are less understood. Any effects, however, may have important consequences for beetle populations, particularly if they affect reproduction. To investigate, the impact of ML and SP exposure on the reproductive output of Onthophagus similis (Scriba), a Northern temperate dung beetle species, was examined. In laboratory trials, field-collected adult O. similis exposed to the ML ivermectin at 1 ppm (wet weight) over a period of 3 weeks had smaller oocytes (p = 0.016), smaller fat bodies and reduced motility compared to the control. In a farm-level investigation, cattle dung-baited pitfall trapping was undertaken on 23 beef cattle farms in SW England, which either used MLs (n = 9), SPs (n = 7) or neither chemical (n = 7). On farms that used no MLs or SPs, 24.2% of females caught were gravid. However, on farms that used MLs no gravid females were caught, and only 1% of the beetles caught on farms using SPs were gravid (p < 0.001). The association between ML and SP use and impaired reproductive output suggests that the use of such chemicals is likely to be ecologically damaging.

Phyllophaga and Related Species (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) Collected in Black-light Traps in Alabama Pastures

2000 ◽  
Vol 35 (3) ◽  
pp. 311-326 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kathy L. Flanders ◽  
Zandra D. DeLamar ◽  
Paul K. Lago
Keyword(s):  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Abundant Species ◽  
The United States ◽  
Light Traps ◽  
Annual Life Cycle ◽  
African Species ◽  
Black Light ◽  
Geographic Regions ◽  
June July ◽  
Onthophagus Gazella

This study reports the occurrence of the adults of Phyllophaga spp. and other major scarab species in three different geographic regions of Alabama. Thirty-three species of Phyllophaga were found during the trapping study. Five species accounted for 97% of the specimens of Phyllophaga trapped in Marion Junction: P. crinita (Burmeister), P. forbesi (Glasgow), P. hirtiventris (Horn), P. mississippiensis Davis, and P. perlonga Davis. Two species accounted for 55% of the specimens trapped in Camp Hill: P. micans (Knoch) and P. hirticula (Knoch). At Winfield, P. crenulata (Froelich), P. ephilida (Say), P. latifrons LeConte, P. micans, and P. quercus (Knoch) were the most abundant species, making up 49% of the specimens. Of these 11 most abundant species, 5 species were collected in spring (March, April and/or May): P. crenulata, P. hirticula, P. micans, P. mississippiensis, and P. perlonga. Phyllophaga hirtiventris adults were collected in late May–June. Adults of P. crinita were collected in June and early July, and were abundant in each year, suggesting that the species has an annual life cycle in Alabama. Phyllophaga ephilida, P. forbesi, P. forbesi, P. latifrons and P. quercus adults were collected in mid-summer (June, July and/or August). Six species of Phyllophaga found during this study have not been previously reported from Alabama: P. bipartita Horn, P. congrua (LeConte), P. hirtiventris, P. mississippiensis, P. praetermissa (Horn), and P. soror Davis. Cyclocephala lurida Bland, Dyscinetus morator (F.), Euetheola humilis rugiceps (LeConte), and Ligyrus gibbosus gibbosus (DeGeer), other potential pests of grasses, were abundant in the black-light traps. The dung beetle, Onthophagus gazella F., an African species that was purposely introduced into the United States, was abundant at all three sites.

scholarly journals Effects of the veterinary anthelmintic moxidectin on dung beetle survival and ecosystem functioning

2017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Manning ◽  
Owen T. Lewis ◽  
Sarah A. Beynon
Keyword(s):  
Reproductive Output ◽  
Sublethal Effects ◽  
Dung Beetle ◽  
Ecosystem Functions ◽  
List Type ◽  
Parasite Control ◽  
Sensitive Species ◽  
Negative Effects ◽  
Short And Long Term

AbstractMacrocyclic lactones (MLs) are a class of chemical compounds administered to livestock for parasite control. These compounds are poorly metabolized and are predominately excreted in dung.When coprophagous insects such as dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea) are exposed to ML residues, lethal and sublethal effects are often observed. Indirectly this can lead to ML residues impairing ecosystem functions that underpin production. A strategy to reduce these negative effects involves selecting compounds that offer lower risk to non-target invertebrates such as the ML moxidectin.Considering two dung beetle species with differing sensitivities to agricultural intensification, we asked whether exposure to moxidectin residues influenced survival, reproductive output, and functioning (short- and long-term estimates of dung removal).When exposed to moxidectin, adults of the sensitive species (Geotrupes spiniger Marsham) experienced a 43% reduction in survival. In contrast, survival of the non-sensitive species (Aphodius rufipes L.) was unaffected. We were unable to determine whether exposure affected reproductive output of either species.We found little evidence to suggest moxidectin impaired dung removal. We found however, that high densities of a species with relatively low functional importance (A. rufipes) can compensate for the loss of a functionally dominant species (G. spiniger). Over a longer timeframe, earthworms fully decomposed dung irrespective of moxidectin residues.

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