SPECIES DIVERSITY AND SEASONAL ABUNDANCE OF SCARABAEOID DUNG BEETLES (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE, GEOTRUPIDAE AND TROGIDAE) ATTRACTED TO COW DUNG IN CENTRAL NEW JERSEY

Species diversity and abundance of scarabaeoid dung beetles (Coleoptera) attracted to fresh cow dung were studied in three habitats of New Jersey: Hutcheson Memorial Forest (HMF) disturbed field, HMF old growth forest, and Rutgers University Bovine Farm. Over a one year period, baited pitfall traps yielded a total of 15,206 beetles representing at least 26 species. Onthophagus hecate was a dominant species in all three sites, accounting for 55.1% of all individuals collected. Onthophagus pennsylvanicus and Copris minutus were present in high numbers in the field, comprising 25.1% and 3.8%, respectively, of specimens collected in that habitat, while O. orpheus and C. minutus were numerous in the forest (20.8% and 13.3%, respectively). Two introduced species, Aphodius lividus (68.5%) and O. taurus (9.6%), were the most numerous species on the farm. Nine species accounted for more than 96% of all scarabaeoid dung beetles collected during the year-long study. The majority of the beetles were collected during the warmer months (May–September), with general peaks appearing to be correlated with temperature. A total of five introduced species were collected: five in the farm site, two in the field site, but none in the forest; 80% of the individuals collected on the farm were introduced.