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The biology of Bubas bison (L.) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) in southern France and its potential for recycling dung in Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

A. A. Kirk
A. A. Kirk
Affiliation:
CSIRO Biological Control Unit, 335 Avenue Abbé Paul Parguel, 34100 Montpellier, France
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Abstract

The biology of Bubas bison (L.) was studied in southern France. It was active from September to the end of May. Adult emergence lasted from September to January; 8 % of the female population was parous and laying eggs in September, and 100% were parous from February to the end of June. Females exhibited extraovariolar egg resorption, which may have been a response to adverse conditions. Eggs laid in October, November, February and March hatched synchronously in May. Adults resulting from eggs laid in March emerged in early September. The rate of oviposition varied from 0–03 egg/day in January to 0·5 in March. Females stopped laying eggs for three weeks in January. The structure of the nests formed from buried dung brood-masses was studied. Each brood-mass contained two eggs, one at each pole. About 12 brood-masses were formed under each dung pad in October 1981. The mean length of each mass was 96 mm and the dry weight 10–5 g. The mean number of masses in a nest was 24, with a mean number of 4–9 nests under each dung pad. The dry weight of dung buried under a pad in October 1981 was 1239 g, 66–6%, of the mean dry weight of an experimental dung pad. B. bison has the potential for recycling large amounts of dung in climatic areas of Australia equivalent to southern France.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 73 , Issue 1 , March 1983 , pp. 129 - 136
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1983

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