New Behavior Records of the Oxysternon palemo Castelnau, 1840 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Scarabaeinae) in Cerrado.

Abstract

The present study reports new behavioral records for Oxysternon palemo Castelnau, 1840 in Cerrado. According to its nesting habits and resource allocation, this species of dung beetle is traditionally classified as coprophagous and paracoprid, transporting portions of dung through tunnels excavated below the resource. We observed a male individual moving a pequi seed (Caryocar brasiliensis Cambess.) with "head-butting," acting as a secondary seed disperser. At another moment, we recorded necrophagous habits for the species when male individuals were observed moving pieces of domestic pig carcasses (Sus scrofa L., 1758), also with "head-butting." After, we recorded a female O. palemo, accompanied by a male individual, butting a dung mass and burying this resource several meters away from the original source. The behavior of pushing the resource over long distances is typical of telecoprid dung beetles that form dung balls and roll them using hind legs away from the resource source, unlike what is expected for O. palemo. Our hypothesis is that the observed behaviors have developed from competition for resources. Furthermore, the behaviors exhibited by O. palemo contribute to the provision of essential ecosystem services. The ecosystem services include the removal and degradation of decomposing organic matter, as well as secondary dispersal of seeds, thus supporting the maintenance and conservation of plant species.