insects
''Naturam ducem sequentes numquam aberrarimus''
powered by tumblr
seattle theme by parker ehret
-
Scarab Beetles (by etee on Flickr)
Beetles Cetoniinae Dynastinae Goliath beetles Scarab Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae dung beetle goliathus Chalcosoma rhinoceros beetle Flower chafers cetonia
Oxysternon conspicillatum, male (by Robert in Colombia on Flickr)
ECOLOGICAL FUNCTIONS OF DUNG BEETLES
In terrestrial ecosystems, insects contribute significantly to the ecological processes of nutrient cycling, bioturbation, pollination and seed dispersal (Nichols et al. 2008). Dung beetles of the subfamily Scarabaeinae (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) fulfil these and other vitally important functions in many different ecosystems, especially in tropical savannas and forests (Hanski and Cambefort 1991e). Through their dung consumption and relocation activities, dung beetles are involved in the ecological functions of parasite suppression, secondary seed dispersal, nutrient cycling and bioturbation (Andresen 2001, 2003; Losey and Vaughan 2006; Nichols et al. 2008; Shepherd and Chapman 1998; Stokstad 2004; Waterhouse 1974). Furthermore, dung beetles may also function as pollinators (Ratcliffe 1970). One dung beetle species, Canthon virens (misidentified as C. dives sensu Borgmeier 1937), fulfills another ecological function by predating on leaf-cutter ants (Atta sp.) and thus potentially regulating the population dynamics of one of the principal herbivores of the Neotropics (Nichols et al. 2008).
EVOLUTIONARY BIOLOGY AND CONSERVATION OF DUNG BEETLES; 2009; by CLARKE H. SCHOLTZ, ADRIAN L.V. DAVIS & UTE KRYGER page: 389-390(PHOTO: Canthon aberrans by Bigal River Conservation Project on Flickr)
My new book :)
Onthophagus granulatus (by Savina Hopkins on Flickr)
* Dung Beetle
beetles Onthophagus granulatus Onthophagus dung beetle Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae art drawing illustration picture
Euoniticellus intermedius (by Savina Hopkins on Flickr)
* Dung Beetle
beetles Euoniticellus intermedius Euoniticellus dung beetle Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae drawing art illustration
Onitis alexis (by Savina Hopkins on Flickr)
* Dung Beetle
Sulcophanaeus imperator imperator (Chevrolat, 1844) male (by urjsa on Flickr)
* Dung Beetle
Argentinia Argentinien Beetle Coleoptera Insect Käfer Scarabaeidae Sulcophanaeus Sulcophaneus imperator Sulcophanaeus imperator imperator Scarabaeinae dung beetle
Oxysternon conspicillatum Major Male (by Robyn Waayers on Flickr)
Date: February 15-17, 1996
Location: Bolivia beetle beetles conspicillatum oxysternon Oxysternon conspicillatum Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae dung beetle
Onthophagus fracticornis (Preyssler, 1790) (by andrea hallgass on Flickr)
* Dung beetle
Onthophagus coleoptera fracticornis insetti macro Onthophagus fracticornis dung beetle Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae
Onthophagus taurus ♂ (Schreber, 1759) (by andrea hallgass on Flickr)
*Dung beetle
Onthophagus coleoptera insetti macro taurus Onthophagus taurus male Onthophagus taurus dung beetle Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae
Scientists determine that dung beetles dance on dung balls to orientate themselves
Scientists recently conducted experiments to determine why dung beetles dance on top of the dung balls they make before rolling them away. Dung beetles roll their dung beetles in a straight path away from the pile of dung after they have made them. Researchers say this straight-line orientation helps dung beetles avoid having their dung balls stolen by other dung beetles. Here is a video of a dung beetle dancing and then rolling the dung ball away.
In a research paper published in PLoS One, scientists hypothesize that the dung beetle dance is a “visually mediated mechanism that facilitates straight-line orientation in ball-rolling dung beetles by allowing them to 1) establish a roll bearing and 2) return to this chosen bearing after experiencing a disturbance to the roll path.”
The researchers, led by Emily Baird of Lund University in Sweden, conducted several experiments on a farm in North-West Province, South Africa to determine why dung beetles dance on dung balls. The experiments involved letting the beetles roll dung balls into tunnels and then turning the tunnels, introducing obstacles in the tunnels or using semi-circular experimental tunnels to force the beetles off course. The researchers found that beetles would typically stop and dance on their dung balls when presented with course changes or obstacles. This suggests that the dance helps the beetles reorient themselves and stay on course.read more: http://www.sciencenewsblog.com/blog/12220121
science video dung beetle dung rolling beetle Scarabaeidae Scarabaeinae scarab beetle dung rolling behavior
Evolution of Genitals: Shape Matters More Than Size
by Stephanie Pappas
As far as evolution is concerned, genital size doesn’t matter — but shape does.
Genitalia are important in the evolution of new species, since compatible parts are necessary for two individuals to successfully mate. Now, new research shows that as two species diverge, evolution acts on the shape and fit of genitalia first, leaving size issues for later.
Using data from scarab beetle populations separated by anywhere from 50 years to millions of years, research led by scientists at Indiana University reveals that both male and female genitalia evolve rapidly and in parallel with one another. But between newly evolving species, genitals diverged faster in shape than they did in size.
“Parallel evolutionary divergence in male and female genitalia was something scientists long suspected or assumed, but we’ve had little or no data to support this assumption,” said study researcher Armin Moczek, a biology professor at Indiana University, Bloomington. “But to see that this parallel divergence is so much faster for genital shape than size is a big surprise.”
read more: livescience
(CREDIT: Indiana University Department of Biology)
science genitalia scarab genitalia scarabaeidae scarabaeinae scarabaeidae genitalia onthophagus genitalia
Over heard at the dung pile: “I am so sick of being a bottom…”
