Arthropoda Associated with Bovine Dung in Goiás, Brazil: Taxonomic Composition, Abundance, Constancy, Dominance, and Seasonal Occurrence

Bovine dung supports diverse arthropod communities that contribute to decomposition, nutrient cycling, soil incorporation, and natural regulation of pest insects. This study reanalyzed original field records of Coleoptera and Acarina associated with eight-day-old bovine dung in Itumbiara, Goiás, Brazil, emphasizing taxonomic composition, abundance, relative frequency, constancy, dominance, and seasonal occurrence. A total of 240 dung pats were sampled monthly from January to December 1998, and arthropods were extracted using Berlese funnels. Overall, 11.599 individuals were recorded, including 11.114 Coleoptera and 485 Acarina. Coleoptera represented 95.82% of the complete assemblage and were significantly more abundant than Acarina. Staphylinidae was the most abundant family, followed by Scarabaeidae, Histeridae, and Macrochelidae. Ataenius aequalis Harold, 1880 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) was the most abundant coleopteran taxon, with 4,001 individuals, followed by Oxytelus sp., with 3,895 individuals. Together, these taxa accounted for 71.04% of all Coleoptera. Among mites, Glyptholaspis confusa (Foà, 1900) (Mesostigmata: Macrochelidae) was predominant, representing 66.39% of Macrochelidae. Chi-square analyses demonstrated significant heterogeneity in abundance among the major taxonomic groups, coleopteran categories, and mite taxa. Thirteen taxa were classified as constant, seven as accessory, and nine as accidental, while none was considered faunistically dominant. Seasonal peaks varied among taxa, although overall abundance was greater during the warm and humid period. The results demonstrate that bovine dung supported a functionally complex assemblage in which Scarabaeidae contributed mainly to dung processing, whereas Histeridae, Macrochelidae, and Staphylinidae likely contributed to trophic regulation and suppression of immature Diptera.