Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae and Geotrupidae) in North Carolina Pasture Ecosystem

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dc.contributor.advisorDr. Steven Washburn, Committee Memberen_US
dc.contributor.advisorDr. Clyde Sorenson, Committee Memberen_US
dc.contributor.advisorDr. D. Wes Watson, Committee Chairen_US
dc.contributor.authorLastro, Elinaen_US
dc.date.accessioned2010-04-02T18:04:34Z
dc.date.available2010-04-02T18:04:34Z
dc.date.issued2006-12-06en_US
dc.degree.disciplineEntomologyen_US
dc.degree.levelthesisen_US
dc.degree.nameMSen_US
dc.description.abstractDung beetles in families Scarabaeidae (subfamilies Aphodiinae, Scarabaeinae and Coprinae) and Geotrupidae (Geotrupinae) aid in the decomposition of dung providing many benefits to pasture and animal health. They improve the soil by burying nutrient-rich dung, and aerating and mixing the soil through tunneling activity. Dung beetles also compete with pestiferous flies and parasitic nematodes for dung resources. Recent trappings at two sites in North Carolina Piedmont and Coastal Plain regions revealed presence of 30 dung beetle species in cattle pastures. A survey of dung beetles was conducted from May to October 2005 in 10 counties representing the three geographic regions of North Carolina, the Mountains, Piedmont and the Coastal Plain. Total of 1,863 specimens representing 15 species were collected from dung baited pitfall traps or directly from cattle dung. Most commonly collected species were Aphodius pseudolividus Olivier and Onthophagus taurus Schreber. Elevation, temperature and soil type were taken into consideration when rationalizing the presence of certain species in the different regions of North Carolina. A study was conducted to evaluate benefits of O. taurus activity on soil nutrition and yield of two common North Carolina pasture grasses. Tunneling activity of O. taurus and dung burial for brood production elevated the levels of major plant nutrients P, K and N in three soil types (Piedmont clay, Coastal Plain sandy-loam and play sand) under laboratory conditions. O. taurus activity increased the yield of Sudangrass Sorghum bicolor (L.) and ryegrass Lolium multiflorum Lam. over the dung only treatment and control. Dung beetle presence improved ryegrass yield over the fertilizer treatment in Cecil red clay and play sand. Methoprene, an insect growth regulator successfully reduced the horn fly [Haematobia irritans (L.)] numbers in an area-wide program in Nash Co., NC. Dung beetle trappings in the treatment area revealed no significant reduction in the populations of several common species compared to the insecticide free control. Laboratory bioassay determined the effect of methoprene on the fecundity, survival and size of the most common North Carolina dung beetle species O. taurus.en_US
dc.identifier.otheretd-11022006-081712en_US
dc.identifier.urihttp://www.lib.ncsu.edu/resolver/1840.16/1498
dc.rightsI hereby certify that, if appropriate, I have obtained and attached hereto a written permission statement from the owner(s) of each third party copyrighted matter to be included in my thesis, dis sertation, or project report, allowing distribution as specified below. I certify that the version I submitted is the same as that approved by my advisory committee. I hereby grant to NC State University or its agents the non-exclusive license to archive and make accessible, under the conditions specified below, my thesis, dissertation, or project report in whole or in part in all forms of media, now or hereafter known. I retain all other ownership rights to the copyright of the thesis, dissertation or project report. I also retain the right to use in future works (such as articles or books) all or part of this thesis, dissertation, or project report.en_US
dc.subjectSudangrassen_US
dc.subjectryegrassen_US
dc.subjectnutrient cyclingen_US
dc.subjectmethopreneen_US
dc.subjecthorn flyen_US
dc.subjectNorth Carolinaen_US
dc.subjectdung beetlesen_US
dc.titleDung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae and Geotrupidae) in North Carolina Pasture Ecosystemen_US

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