Coprophagous beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) collected in Aquidauana, MS, Brazil

Coprophagous beetles were collected from a pasture area using pitfall traps baited with cattle fresh manure, from February to December, 1995. Twenty three species were collected, comprising the following genera: Digitonthophagus, Onthophagus, Dichotomius, Ontherus, Canthon, Canthidium, Ataenius, Aphodius, Pedaridium, Ateuchus, Trichillum, Coprophanaeus, and Megathopomina. Among the species collected Digitonthophagus gazella (Onthophagus gazella) was the most numerous, followed in decreasing order by Ontherus appendiculatus, Trichillum externepunctatum, and Dichotomius anaglypticus. The dung beetles with greater biomass were: D. gazella (Fabr.), O. appendiculatus (Mannerheim), D. anaglypticus (Mannerheim) e D. nisus (Germar). Most of the specimens were collected in the warmer and moister months in the year (February, March, April and December). During drier months, June to October, less than 20% of the total specimens were collected. Among the species, those with greater biomass were collected in the crepuscular-nocturnal period