Survey of Beneficial Insects in Undisturbed Cattle Droppings on Oahu, Hawaii

Abstract

Insects were collected from cattle droppings at 2 locations on Oahu, Hawaii; one on the wet east side (Kualoa) and one on the dry northwest side (Poamoho). From these areas, 7 species of Scarabaeidae were collected. The most numerous species were Onthophagus gazalla F., Onthophagus sagittarius (L.), and Aphodius lividus (Oliver). Four species of Hydrophilidae were collected of which Cercyon quisquilius (L.) was the most numerous. Of the predator beetles, 9 species of Staphylinidae [Oxytelus sp., Philonthus (probably longicornis Steph.), Philonthus rectangulus Shp., Philonthus discoideus Grav., Philonthus sp., Platystethus sp., Lithocharis sp., Eulissus sp., and Xantholininae gen. sp.] and 2 Histeridae [Pachylister caffer (Erich.) and Hister nomus Erich. J were collected; all low in numbers except the Oxytelus species. Dipterous larvae, in 6 families and other unidentified families, were collected. In general, beetles were more abundant at Poamoho than at Kualoa and dipterous larvae were more abundant at Kualoa.