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Mechanized extraction of arthropods from cattle dung

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2009

R. W. Sutherst ,
A. Macqueen ,
B. M. Kelley ,
D. A. Stegeman ,
K. G. Asher  and
R. S. Tozer
R. W. Sutherst
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Long Pocket Laboratories, Private Bag No. 3, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068, Australia
A. Macqueen
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Long Pocket Laboratories, Private Bag No. 3, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068, Australia
B. M. Kelley
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Long Pocket Laboratories, Private Bag No. 3, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068, Australia
D. A. Stegeman
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Long Pocket Laboratories, Private Bag No. 3, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068, Australia
K. G. Asher
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Long Pocket Laboratories, Private Bag No. 3, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068, Australia
R. S. Tozer
Affiliation:
CSIRO, Division of Entomology, Long Pocket Laboratories, Private Bag No. 3, Indooroopilly, Queensland 4068, Australia
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Abstract

Ecological, population and community studies of arthropod fauna inhabiting dung require large-scale quantitative data to produce statistically adequate results. A mechanized extraction technique is described which recovers fauna accurately and rapidly from large numbers of cattle dung pads. The equipment comprises a motor-driven paddle which agitates the dung sample in a bucket with fine mesh panels inlaid into its walls and through which is passed a continuous flow of water. An electric motor drives five such units simultaneously. Most dipteran puparia and adult arthropods float on water and are recovered following the washing. Puparia are recovered manually, while mites and adult beetles are extracted from the floating debris with heat in modified Berlese-Tullgren funnels. The wash bucket and its drained contents are then immersed in a flotation vat through which a sodium carbonate solution is recirculated. Insect eggs and larvae are floated off into sieves and rinsed before preservation. The resulting samples are fixed and preserved in 70% ethanol for later identification and counting. The procedure recovered 70–90% of most types and stages of dung fauna. Up to 25 complete dung pads can be processed per day with a team of three people.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Bulletin of Entomological Research , Volume 77 , Issue 2 , June 1987 , pp. 239 - 246
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1987

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