East African dung beetles (Scarabaeidae) attracted by defensive secretions of millipedes

Abstract

Dung beetles of six species of the genus Onthophagus (Scarabaeidae) were attracted by millipede carcasses in Laikipia, Central Kenya. One of these species (Onthophagus gibbus) was lured by the quinonoid defensive secretions of the millipedes. The attractive effect of quinonoid millipede secretions to necrophagous dung beetles was previously recorded from West and Southern Africa and from tropical Asia and may also be found in other regions where large millipedes occur

Journal of East African Natural History Vol. 93 (1&2) 2004: pp. 69-73