Feeding, Reproductive, and Nesting Behavior ofCanthon bispinusGermar (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae)

Abstract

Abstract The food relocation, reproductive, and nesting behaviors of Canthon bispinus Germar were studied in terraria at ambient conditions outdoors with three food resources. Individuals fed upon fish meat and dog dung but did not use cow dung. Five kinds of food manipulation behavior were observed: rolling balls, rolling dung pellets, rolling small pieces of fish, direct burial, and stationary rotation of food. To attract females, males adopt the typical headstand position for the emission of sexual pheromones beside the food source or next to a rolled ball. Males make two sizes of balls to attract females: small balls (≤10 mm) and large balls (≥11 mm). Small balls are always abandoned intact or lightly bitten after mating; they are regarded as nuptial gifts offered by males only to copulate. Most often, sexual encounters occur at the food source or, less frequently, while the male is rolling a ball without the previous emission of pheromones. Only carrion-provisioned large balls (11–21 mm maximum diame...