Effect of habitat on the abundance and diversity of Scarabaeoid Dung beetle (Scarabaeidae) assemblages in India

To study the effect of habitat type, pitfall bait traps were used to collect the beetles. In all thirty species and 8316 individuals, belonging to subfamily Hybosorinae, Aphodiinae and Scarabaeinae were collected from two habitats. Subfamily Scarabaeinae was represented by 21 species, Aphodiinae by 8 species and Hybosorinae by a single species. Composition of assemblages was found to be different in both the habitats. Dung beetle assemblage in two habitats was dominated by genus Onthophagus with 7 species. It was followed by Aphodius 6 species, Onitis, Drepanocerus and Oniticellus by 2 species, Hybosorus, Rhyssemus and Gymnopleurus by single species in habitat A. While Onthophagus was followed by Aphodius 4 species, Oniticellus 3 species, Gymnopleurus, Drepanocerus and Caccobius by 2 species and Hybosorus, Rhyssemus and Onitis by single species in habitat B. Most of the species were less abundant in Habitat A. Habitat B was showing the highest mean number of species, number of individuals and diversity.