Abstract
Ceroptera rufitarsis (Meigen) (Diptera: Sphaeroceridae) is a tiny fly phoretic on several roller dung beetles of the genus Scarabaeus L. (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae). We investigated the attractiveness of Scarabaeus sacer L. and S. cicatricosus Lucas both under field and laboratory conditions. Several cues potentially responsible for the host finding behavior were tested in order to determine the basis of attraction of Ceroptera rufitarsis to Scarabaeus beetles. Visual cues, especially host movements, constituted the main factor responsible for host finding behavior and host choice while chemical cues did not play any role in host discrimination.
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