Species diversity and abundance of scarabaeoid dung beetles (Coleoptera) attracted to fresh cow dung were studied in three habitats of New Jersey: a disturbed field, an old-growth forest, and a bovine farm. Baited pitfall traps yielded a total of 15,206 beetles representing at least 22 species over a one year period. Onthophagus hecate was a dominant species in all three sites, accounting for 55.1% of all individuals collected. Copris minutus and O. pennsylvanicus were also present in high numbers in the field, comprising 3.8% and 25.1%, respectively, of specimens collected in that habitat, while C. minutus and O. orpheus were numerous in the forest (13.3% and 20.8%, respectively). Aphodius lividus (68.5%) and O. taurus (9.6%), two introduced species, were the most numerous on the farm. Nine species accounted for more than 96% of all scarabaeoid dung beetles collected during the year-long study.
Species 1: Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Onthophagus hecate (dung beetle)
Species 2: Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Onthophagus pennsylvanicus
Species 3: Coleoptera Scarabaeidae Onthophagus orpheus
Keywords: habitat
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