title: A Comparison of Trap Types for Assessing Diversity of Scarabaeoidea on South Carolina Golf Courses.
abstract: A 2-yr survey was conducted on golf courses in South Carolina to 1) document the species richness and seasonal activity of Scarabaeoidea; 2) assess any species compositional differences among three trap types (ultraviolet light, unbaited flight-intercept, and unbaited pitfall); and 3) identify any dominant taxa in each trap type. A total of 74,326 scarabaeoid beetles were captured, of which 77.4% were Aphodiinae (not identified to species). The remaining specimens belong to 104 species in 47 genera and 6 families. The most abundant species were Cyclocephala lurida Bland, Dyscinetus morator (F.), Euetheola humilis (Burmeister), Hybosorus illigeri Reiche, and Maladera castanea (Arrow). In all trap types, >90% of all specimens and taxa were collected between April and August. Ultraviolet light traps collected ∼94% of total specimens consisting of 83 taxa (of which 51 were unique to this trap type), whereas flight-intercept traps captured ∼2% of all specimens representing 53 taxa (18 of which were unique), and pitfall traps captured ∼4% of all specimens representing 15 taxa (no unique species; all species also captured by ultraviolet light traps). Indicator species analysis identified 2-3 and 10-13 taxa that were most frequently collected by flight-intercept and ultraviolet light traps, respectively. Flight-intercept traps complemented ultraviolet light traps by capturing more species of dung and carrion beetles and diurnal phytophagous scarab beetles. Results suggested that a similar survey for domestic or exotic scarabaeoid beetles in turfgrass systems should be conducted between April and August using ultraviolet light and flight-intercept traps at 13-58 sites.
authors.affiliation: Clemson University, Pee Dee Research and Education Center, 2200 Pocket Rd., Florence, SC 29506. juanghc@clemson.edu.
authors.forename: Juang-Horng
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Chong
authors.affiliation: Clemson University, Department of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, 171 Poole Agricultural Center, Clemson, SC 29634.
authors.forename: Kevin R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Hinson
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D001517:Coleoptera / Q000145:classification / Q000502:physiology*; D004777:Environment; D005260:Female; D006055:Golf; D007300:Insect Control / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D012621:Seasons; D013022:South Carolina
keywords: flight-intercept; indicator species analysis; pitfall; sampling methodology; species richness