DAILY BIPHASIC BEHAVIOR IN KERATIN-FEEDING DESERT TROGID BEETLES IN RELATION TO CLIMATE

1. Patterns of daily activity of two ectothermic species of the trogid genus Omorgus were studied in the Kalahari of southern Africa in summer. The relationship between time and type of activity, and environmental temperature, relative humidity and light intensity, was investigated. 2. Beetle activity was biphasic, with peaks in activity at sunset and sunrise in both species. 3. Afternoon activity coincided with high temperatures and low humidity and morning activity with minimum daily temperature and maximum humidity. 4. Afternoon activity, which peaked at about 34-degrees-C and 25% r.h., consisted predominantly of complex breeding behaviour and dispersal. High temperatures are necessary for these activities. 5. In the morning feeding predominated. At this time temperature was about 27-degrees-C and r.h. above 60%. High r.h. is important because it restricts respiratory loss of water, improves food (moist hair and skin keratin) quality and may compensate for faecal water loss. 6. No evidence of competition between the two species was found.