Study of Nidification Behavior in Three Dung Beetle Species (Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) From South-Western Maharashtra, India

Nidification behavior in three dung beetle species (Scarabaeinae Scarabaeidae) were studied. In Onthophagus catta and Onitis philemon the nidification behavior were studied under the laboratory condition while in Liatongus rhadamistus field observations were made. O. catta construct simple nest composed of single unbranched vertical gallery. At bottom end of each gallery, brood balls are lodged. O. philemon construct a simple unbranched numerous and extensive vertical galleries which leads to the enlarged chamber at the bottom, wherein large amount of dung was carried initially for the construction of brood balls. Field observations regarding nidification in L. rhadamistus indicates that just beneath the dung pads up to 9 cm deep, depression of various sizes were constructed for lodging the brood balls. These are the brood chambers. The number of brood balls lodged in each chamber depends on size of the brood chamber. The sizes of brood balls as well as depth of the brood balls constructed by these dung beetles were also studied.