Dung Beetle Traps

Thanks Bandrow, more great information.

Regarding the malt and fermentation. Can you just add the malt to water onsite and then add to the dung? Or do you need to start the fermentation process ahead of time? If so, how long?

I'm assuming that you guys feel that the fermentation of the dung makes a big difference. I would have thought that human dung alone would be plenty stinky. I can only imagine how bad the fermented human dung must smell.

Thanks,
Garin

Greetings,

I use the dung without the fermenting malt in most instances - mostly because it's easier that way, especially when on a trip and moving from place to place. While the malt may bring in more geotrupines, the dung by itself works just fine. Using just dung, I've actually had Phanaeus arriving at the trap before I was finished installing it - they come quick on a hot day with a little breeze to waft the stink around.

It is best to get the malt fermenting before adding to the bait - in the field it may take a while to get rolling. It usually takes a couple of days to get it fermenting well. Having it fermented at the time of trap placement ensures it will begin working right away.

Keep in mind too that you can use the fermented malt (or fermented dark brown sugar) in pitfall cups by itself - especially in the SE U.S. for things like Peltotrupes, Mycotrupes and Geotrupes. And you can use it in hanging milk or soda bottles as an attractant for Cerambycidae.

As for herbivore dung - cow can be fairly productive - I've taken Phanaeus, Copris, Dichotomius, and numerous species of Onthophagus and aphodiines in cattle dung. Horse dung does not seem to be very productive, and the only species I can remember off the top of my head collecting from cattle dung is Aphodius fimetarius, an introduced species.

Hope this is helpful!

Bandrow

There is a paper somewhere online. They did studies on different excrements productivity. According to the paper human and chimpanzee have the best scent...for dung beetles.

I just did the same thing. Mixed a bottle of human dung and molasses. Yesterday I noticed the lid was bulging so I opened it. Boom! All over me, my shower stall, walls and everything else. My arm looked like a giant O'Henry bar. Gross.

Greetings,

I've never used fowl dung, only foul dung.

Sorry - couldn't resist that.

Seriously - trying bird dung could be interesting - not sure what you'd get, but trying new things can sometimes be surprisingly productive. I have used deer dung with some success. I collect relatively fresh deer dung and freeze it - then when ready to use it, just thaw it and add a bit of water to "reconstitute" it. Works for a variety of aphodiine scarabs.

I have heard that a variety of scarabs and trogids will come to decomposing chicken feathers. In particular, Deltochilum gibbosum in the southeastern U.S. Not sure how one would prepare the bait - maybe you can find something on-line about it.

Cheers!
Bandrow

Hi Tim,

I would suggest trying different habitats in your area for different species. Traps set in wooded areas will produce different species than those placed in open fields, etc. Setting traps near areas supporting cattle or other livestock can be productive - I've often set pitfalls baited with pig dung outside the fences of pastures with cattle and did very well - the animals tend to concentrate the beetles in the area.

The open pasture areas tend to produce more species of Canthon, Onthophagus, Phanaeus and some introduced aphodiines, while more wooded areas will produce native Onthophagus and aphodiines, as well as Geotrupes, Odonteus, Copris and some Canthon.

I've taken a few specimens of Phanaeus triangularis in Ohio in wooded areas, while in the South, the same species seems to be more common in floodplains of rivers. Even different soil types can support different species complexes - clay versus sand, for example.

If you'll let me know where you're located, I might be able to give you more specific details...

Cheers!
Bandrow

Hi Tim,

I grew up in northern Ohio - Mansfield - so I'm pretty familiar with the general area. Phanaeus vindex is likely your only species of that genus in the area. Phanaeus triangularis (previously called subspecies torrens in the North), can be found in southeastern Ohio in wooded areas, but is relatively uncommon there. You should be able to get Geotrupes semiopacus, G. splendidus and maybe G. blackburnii; Copris fricator; several Onthophagus, including O. nuchicornis in sandy areas; and a variety of aphodiines. It's possible that Canthon chalcites and Dichotomius carolinus could be there, but in my experience, those species are more common further south. Deltochilum gibbosum occurs down in Harrison and Crawford Counties in southern Indiana as well.

You could also get some species of Odonteus and Bolbocerosoma, but those are almost as common at lights as in traps.

Hope this helps!
Bandrow