Studies on the arthropod fauna of cattle dung in the Wellington region (1977- 1979)

Abstract

Investigations into the arthropod fauna of cattle dung were carried out from February-November 1977 at Kaitoke and from February 1978 to April 1979 at Kaitoke and Wallaceville near Wellington, New Zealand. In all, earthworms and 8 arthropod orders were recorded with Coleoptera, Diptera, and Collembola forming the bulk of the sample. Striped flesh fly Hybopygia varia (Walker) larvae were present from day 4 to 26. Hydrophilid beetle Psephorboragus sp. was recorded up to day 30, while members of Staphylinidae (Coleoptera) were present irregularly throughout the study. Parasitism of H. varia (Walker) larvae by an braconid wasp, Aphaereta aotea Hughes & Woolcock is considered to be a contributing factor towards larval mortality.

Keywords:

• Cattle dung
• dung fauna
• succession
• parasitism