Pholeophile Onthophagus species in fauna of Serbia (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Onthophagini)

Abstract

This paper presents an overview of pholeobiont, pholeophile and pholeoxene representatives of the genus Onthophagus in Serbia related to burrows of small mammals, primarily those of rodents. It elaborates on the concept of pholeophily exibited by these small coprophagus dung beetles that can be obligatory or facultative. Out of 18 species of the genus Onthophagus registered in Serbia, one is obligatory pholeophile, two are facultative pholeophiles and three belong to pholeoxene species. For each species, along with its general distribution, a short description is provided as well as sites in Serbia.

Keywords

• scarabaeidae
• onthophagus
• burrows
• pholeophily
• serbia