Identification of Dung Beetle Associated with New York Pastured Cattle

Abstract

Dung beetles play an extremely valuable role in the ecology of pasture-based cattle systems including suppression of pests and nutrient recycling. We surveyed NY dairy cattle pasture systems to determine the relative number and species diversity of dung beetles that serve as predators or competitors of face and horn flies. Four beetle genera have been identified to date, with not all of the samples fully processed.Aphodius species were most commonly collected with Sphaeridium next andOnthophagus taurus the least commonly collected.