Full Text - BHL

Lindquist, A.W. (1935) Notes on the habits of certain coprophagous beetles and methods of rearing them. U.S. Dept. of Agriculture Circular No. 351: 1-9.

Introduction

Coprophagous beetles are of economic importance as well as of general interest, for severel reasons: (1) By disturbing cattle dung, the breeding medium of the horn fly (Haematobia irritans L.), they probably reduce the abundance of this widespread pest of cattle; (2) many species are intermediate hosts of parasites of poultry and other animals; (3) they play an important role in the interchange of soils and the incorporation of organic matter; and (4) they exhibit the instincts of maternity and progeny protection. As there appeared to be a dearth of information on the habits of these dung beetles in this country and on methods by which these insects can be reared, the following notes and observations were made at Uvalde, Tex., from time to time from 1931 to 1934.