A Consideration of the Insect Population Associated 
■WITH Cow DunCi at Crawley^ W.A. 
231 
Apliodii of Australia at the time of writing: his papei’. In view of this state- 
ment and the association of species of Ataenius with Aphodius Uvidus in other 
parts of the world (Myers, 1938 ; Lindquist, 1935), the i)aucity of Ataenii 
at Crawley is surprising. None were found at Katanning in August, 1941. 
Sub. Family COPRINAE. 
Although they play no part in the succession in cow dung, Chprine dung 
beetles are of inten^st because of their habits, whicli have made them the 
subject of study from the earliest times. The ancient Egyptians regarded the 
manipulations of circular dung pellets by ScarahaeMS sacer as a symbol of the 
revolution of the planets, and its periodic appearance and disap])carance as 
a sign of eternal life. Tlie Coprinao utilise dung as food for themselves and 
their larvae without actually living in it. This interesting grouj) is not as 
well represented in Australia as elsewhere and the species in general are smaller 
(Lea, 1923A). The chief Western Australian genus is Onthophagus, which 
contains 10 English species found in dung (Stephens, 1839), while Lea (1923A) 
lists 102 Australian, of which two, O. nitidor Blkb. and O. australis Guer., 
fre(]uent carrion at Canberra (Fuller, 1 934). One specimen only has been found 
at Crawley, but 0. ferox has been taken at Belmont and Clanunont, while in 
the country it occurs at Katanning and at Capel. 
Onthophagus ferox digs vertical shafts in close proximity to or under cakes 
of dung. At about a depth of four inches the direction changes to the hori- 
zontal, the resulting passage being about three inches long. In the blind end 
of this the store of dung is placed. Fresh pig, sheep, cow or horse dung is 
used and stored in the form of scraps, not moulded into pellets. The excavator 
of the tunnel is usually found at the bottom of the vertical shaft during the 
day, the digging apparently being performed at night. There was no indication 
that the beetles work in pairs as is the case with Copris lunaris (Wheeler, 1922). 
The presence of Onthophagus is indicated by piles of turned-up earth round 
the edges of dung cakes. 
F. 11. ANTHICIDAE. 
In March, 1941, two specimens oi AnthicMS hesperi. King, were collected 
from cow dung at Crawley. This maintains the relationship between carrion 
and dung insects, since A . hoejeri, Kerg. is a carrion insect at Canbt^rra (Fuller, 
1934). 
F. 12. TENEBRIONIDAE. 
Gonocephahim arenarium, Fab. and Adelium scytallicum. Base., are ])resent 
at Crawley as shelterers under old, drk'd liftli stag(i cow dungs. 
Order ti^DIPTERA. 
F. I. PSYCHODIDAE. 
These tiny moth-like flies are commonly associated with decaying veg(‘tablo 
matter, dung or water. Some species of Psychoda breed in drain i)ipes, the 
larvae being able to survive hot water and soap (Curran, 1934). The family 
is widespread. Pertcoma has been bi'c'd from horse and cow dung in Denmark 
(Thomsen & Hammer, 1930), Psychoda 'minuta from cow dung at Washington 
(Howard, 1912). Two species of Psychoda frefjuent carrion at Canlx'rra 
(Fuller, 1934). The economic imjDortance in Australia is negligible apart from 
occasional nuisance caused by large numbers getting into exposed food material. 
