First observation on the predation of a non-arthropod species by a dung beetle species: The case of Canthon chalybaeus and the snail Bulimulus apodemetes

PLoS One. 2021 Oct 13;16(10):e0258396. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0258396. eCollection 2021.

Abstract

We described, for the first time, a case of predation of a non-arthropod species by a dung beetle species. Canthon chalybaeus Blanchard, 1843 kills healthy individuals of the terrestrial snail Bulimulus apodemetes (D'Orbigny, 1835) showing an evident pattern of physical aggressiveness in the attacks using the dentate clypeus and the anterior tibiae. The description of this predatory behaviour was complemented with the analysis of the chemical secretions of the pygidial glands of C. chalybaeus, highlighting those main chemical compounds that, due to their potential toxicity, could contribute to death of the snail. We observed a high frequency of predatory interactions reinforcing the idea that predation in dung beetles is not accidental and although it is opportunistic it involves a series of behavioural sophistications that suggest an evolutionary pattern within Deltochilini that should not only be better studied from a behavioural point of view but also phylogenetically.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Coleoptera / physiology*
  • Exocrine Glands / chemistry
  • Exocrine Glands / metabolism
  • Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
  • Indoles / analysis
  • Indoles / isolation & purification
  • Methylamines / analysis
  • Methylamines / isolation & purification
  • Predatory Behavior*
  • Snails / physiology*

Substances

  • Indoles
  • Methylamines
  • indole
  • trimethylamine

Grants and funding

The study was funded by CONICET, through a post-doctoral scholarship of CMM. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.