SOIL TEXTURE AND THE DISTRIBUTION OF ANTITROGUS PARVULUS BRITTON, LEPIDIOTA CRINITA BRENSKE AND L. NEGATORIA BLACKBURN (COLEOPTERA: SCARABAEIDAE) IN SOUTH QUEENSLAND SUGARCANE FIELDS

Thirty sugarcane fields located on different soil types in southern Queensland were sampled for the melolonthine canegrubs Antitrogus parvulus Britton, Lepidiota crinita Brenske and L. negatoria Blackburn. Soil parameters (sand, silt, clay, pH) were also measured for each field. Correlations between the relative abundance of the canegrub species and soil parameters were determined. Distinct soil preferences were shown among 2 of the 3 canegrub species. A. parvulus abundance was positively correlated with clay and silt content and negatively correlated with sand content. L. negatoria abundance was positively correlated with sand content and negatively correlated with clay and silt content. L. crinita abundance showed no significant correlations with sand, silt, or clay content. The abundance of none of the 3 species showed any significant correlation with soil pH.