Vol. 50 No. 5, 2011

Dung Beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) of Two NonNative Habitats in Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Pedro Giovâni da Silva

Centro de Pesquisa de Pecuária dos Campos Sulbrasileiros, Embrapa Pecuária Sul, Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Pedro Giovâni da Silva (2011) There are few studies on the fauna of Scarabaeinae in Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The aim of this study was to determine species of the Scarabaeinae in areas of Eragrostis plana Nees and Eucalyptus spp., 2 exotic habitats originally occupied by native grasslands, in the town of Bagé, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil; and to compare them with the richness found in other ecosystems at the same location. Beetles were collected with the use of pitfall traps with various kinds of bait and without bait, from Sept. to Dec. 2006. In total, 264 beetles belonging to 5 tribes, 7 genera, and 13 species were captured. Onthophagus aff. hirculus Mannerheim, Canthon lividus Blanchard, C. bispinus (Germar), and C. podagricus Harold were the most abundant species. A comparison of the richness of the studied Scarabaeinae in this region showed that the richness found in the exotic habitats investigated was lower. These habitats seem to have influenced the Scarabaeinae fauna, giving support only to common species native to the region with generalist eating habits.

Key words: Environmental change, Eragrostis plana, Eucalyptus, Pampas.

*Correspondence: Tel: 55-53-99795798. E-mail:pedrogiovanidasilva@yahoo.com.br