Abundance and reproductive strategy of the dung beetle Aphodius rufipes (L.) (Scarabaeidae)

Abstract

Abstract. 1. Adult A.rufipes invade fresh dung pats (mainly in August) and stay for a few days in each pat to feed and oviposit; maximum abundances: 0–100 beetles per cattle dung pat. Larval growth is completed within 40–55 days.2. The dispersion of beetles is contagious or seemingly random. In sunny weather, with rapid crust formation on the dung, pats deposited in the afternoon are invaded by more beetles than those deposited in the morning.3. In the field, the total number of eggs per pat is significantly less variable than the number of adult beetles; this might indicate a density‐dependent, regulatory, rate of oviposition. The subsequent larval mortality is probably density‐independent.4. Experiments confirmed that the number of eggs laid per female‐day in the pats was density‐dependent.5. The non‐opportunistic reproductive strategy of A.rufipes may have evolved as an adaptation to life in dung pats: at excessive population densities pats might disappear before completion of larval growth.6. Finally, A.rufipes in dung pats is compared with blowflies breeding in carrion.