| It is astounding that over
100 species of dung beetles can coexist sympatrically. I have sampled
extensively with a wide variety of baits and flight intercept traps and
found that a large percentage of the dung beetle community feeds on bacteria
from non-dung sources. These species are split between generalists and
specialists, some of which live in restricted and patchy habitats, such
as leaf-cutter ant nests and bromeliads. Others have derived fruit and
fungus feeding behavior. Most of these species and life histories are
completely unknown. |
