EFFECTS OF THE PYRETHROID FLUMETHRIN ON COLONIZATION AND DEGRADATION OF CATTLE DUNG BY ADULT INSECTS

A field study is reported on the effect of the pyrethroid flumethrin u sed as pour-on dip on (i) insect colonisation of cattle dung by the co leopteran families Scarabaeidae (Scarabaeinae, Aphodiinae), Hydrophili dae and Staphylinidae, as well as functional groups of dung beetles, a nd (ii) the degradation of cattle dung in a savanna ecosystem in South Africa. The results of the study indicate that the flumethrin did not affect degradation of dung pats exposed in the field 1-28 days after treatment compared with pats of a control group. The number of adult b eetles recovered one and three days after pat deposition was similar i n dung from treated and untreated cattle. These results are considered in the context of other studies and field observations.