Thermoregulation in endothermic dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae): Effect of body size and ecophysiological constraints in flight

Abstract

We explore the physiological constraints of body temperature as related to body mass and ambient temperature during flight in endothermic dung beetles showing a mass-related breakpoint where species show strong vs. weak endothermy. We found two different strategies in the dung beetles prior to flight; larger beetles (>1.9 g) elevate and maintain their body temperature ( T b) at levels well above ambient temperature ( T a) whereas smaller beetles’ (<1.9 g) T b tends to conform with T a. Physiological constraints analysis revealed a constant maximum tolerated temperature (in flight) of 42 °C and a minimum temperature for flight of around 25 °C. These, with body mass, may play a role in thermal niche partitioning and geographical distribution patterns.