A study of the association of Ondoteus armiger (Scopoli, 1772) (Coleoptera: Geotrupidae) with the European rabbit

Abstract

Ondonteus armiger (Scopoli, 1772) (Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea: Geotrupidae) is the smallest European representative of the secretive Bolboceratinae sub-familly. Numerous authors have reported or observed a likely association with the European rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus (Linnaeus, 1758), (Mammalia: Leporidae). In order to ascertain this assumption, pit-fall trapping was carried-out in Western Europe (France, England), and a detailed literature study was carried out on the distribution of both species and reported association between the two species and/or other mammals. Results are presented along with new biological information for O. armiger.