1963] 
Matthews — Behavior of Canthon 
81 
depend a great deal on very variable factors such as the density and 
searching activity of the beetles and the amount of dung in a given 
area. 
Cutting. Once a beetle has come up to a source of dung it begins 
immediately to start cutting a ball from the nearest portion. This 
process involves climbing on the dung and cutting a circular groove 
with the head and forelegs, the beetle pivoting in a circle. The dung 
is bunched up under the beetle with the forelegs and quickly acquires 
a ball-like shape (fig. i). When the bunched dung is of a certain 
quantity, it is detached by reaching under and cutting the lump away 
at the base in a circle (fig. 3). At this point, if the quantity of dung 
in the lump is adequate, shaping begins. If it is not, the beetle, resting 
on the lump, reaches out with the forelegs and grasps small quantities 
of dung from the main pile (or sometimes from balls of other beetles) 
and adds them to the lump (fig. 1). I do not know how the beetle 
estimates the quantity of dung in the lump. The process of cutting 
takes 2 — 14 min, averaging 8.7 min ( 12) . 
Shaping. Once cut and detached, the crude lump is converted 
into a more or less perfect sphere. Before shaping, the detached lump 
may be rolled a short distance (3 — 30 cm) away from the main pile. 
The process of shaping involves patting the lump rapidly over and 
over with the underside of the fore tibiae acting alternately, with 
the beetle climbing over the surface of the ball (fig. 2) or lying to 
one side of it and rotating the ball slowly so that the entire surface 
is patted many times over. The head may also be used to trim lumps 
or fibers off the ball surface during this process. Occasionally, new 
material may be added to the ball during the shaping process also (2). 
For the food ball, the shaping process takes 2 — 7 min, averaging 4.2 
min ( 15) . 
At this point the ball is made, the entire process (cutting and 
shaping) having taken 12 — 20 min and averaged 15.1 min (12). The 
food balls are often crude and not symmetrical, and measure 15 — 23 
Explanation of Plate 7 
(All figures drawn from photographs taken by the author) 
Fig. 1. Lone beetle adding more material to food ball during cutting process. 
Fig. 2. Lone beetle shaping food ball. Forelegs are used to pat surface of ball. 
Fig. 3. Male and female pair cutting brood ball. Beetle at right is severing 
ball at base. Fig. 4. Male and female pair shaping brood ball. Both beetles 
are going over surface of ball with forelegs. Fig. 5. Rolling completed brood 
ball. Male is below, pushing ball backwards over an obstacle. Female is 
above, balancing on moving ball. This relationship of the sexes during rolling 
is invariable. Note smooth contours of completed brood ball. 
