Observations on the Life History of Onthophagous depressus (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Adult Onthophagus depressus Harold constructed brood cells of cattle dung 15 to 30 cm below the soil surface. These brood cells averaged 23.1 mm long and 16.1 mm wide. Adult females deposited a single egg in the egg chamber of each brood cell. Eggs were 2.3 to 2.5 mm long and 1.1 to 1.4 mm wide. Embryonic development required 2.5 to 4.3 d; larval development (three instars) 27 d, and pupal development about 12 d. Development from egg to adult averaged 46.3 d at 25–27°C. Adult beetles were captured in all months except February with peak flight activity between 2000 and 2100 h (EST). Overwintering occurred in the adult and/or pupal stage in southern Georgia.
Contributor Notes
2 Department of Entomology, University of Georgia Coastal Plain Experiment Station, P. O. Box 748, Tifton, GA 31793.
3 Current address; Rhone Merieux, Inc., 115 Transtech Dr., Athens, GA 30601.
4 Veterinary Entomology Research Unit, Food Animal Protection Research Laboratory, USDA, ARS, 2881 F&B Road, College Station, TX 77845.