Dung beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) provide fundamental ecosystem functions and services, like nutrient cycling, bioturbation, secondary seed dispersal, parasite and fly control, and soil fertilization, but land use transformation, has negatively impacted their diversity and processes. For the last four decades, dung beetles have been used as one of the most crucial insect groups for analyzing and monitoring biodiversity in natural temperate and tropical ecosystems, and their anthropogenic ecosystem´s derivatives. Dung beetles seem to be declining mainly for the forest conversion to agrosystems and others ecosystems transformed by human activity in the Neotropical region. Our knowledge of the dung beetle responses to the transformation of their original habitat has increased over the last two decades in the Neotropical region. However, the knowledge on the taxonomy, ecology, biology, and the factors producing the anthropogenic activity on Neotropical dung beetles has not been met and analyzed in full. This Research Topic synthesizes the knowledge on the diversity, taxonomy, and biology of the dung beetle species in the Neotropical region. The structure of this Research Topic is composed of two sections. In the first section, articles may be original research papers or reviews on the knowledge of the dung beetles diversity in each country of the Neotropical region, including species diversity and their response to land use and habitat fragmentation. Articles on the second section may be original research papers or reviews on the following Research Topics: • Taxonomy of Neotropical dung beetles and their preservation in Institutional collections • The methodology used to analyze the spatial distribution and monitoring of dung beetles • The response of dung beetles to habitat loss and modification to the landscape in different countries and Neotropical biomes: Cloud forest, Tropical rain forest, Subtropical forest, Cerrado, Caatinga, Paramo, Pampa, Pantanal, and others • The physiological responses of dung beetles to anthropogenic disturbance in the Neotropics • The biology and reproductive behavior of Neotropical dung beetles • The genetics of Neotropical dung beetle • Dung beetle interaction with other species and its role as a secondary dispersal • The relationship between dung beetles and Mesoamerican cultures

For a relatively small group of insects, dung beetles have attracted an inordinate amount of scientific interest over the years. This started with the work of the famous French naturalist Jean-Henri Fabre about 100 years ago, but it the work of Gonzalo Halffter of Mexico, and his colleagues, who first placed dung beetles on the scientific map by the publication of two important synthetic works. The first was published in 1966 ("Natural History") and this was followed by another in 1982 ("Nesting and Breeding Behaviour"). A multi-authored book on dung beetle ecology, edited by Ilkka Hanski and Yves Cambefort, was published in 1991. These volumes are long out of print and mostly unavailable. In the 18 years since the last book was published there has been a steady stream of research published on dung beetle phylogeny, biogeography, physiological ecology and conservation, fields that were not, or barely treated in the previous books. The current work synthesises and updates most of the major elements covered in those studies, but introduces several novel sections in a phylogenetic approach to the natural history of dung beetles. The aspects covered, in five sections, are the following: evolution and ecological success of dung beetles; physiological and behavioural ecology of dung beetles; phylogeny of the Scarabaeinae; historical biogeography of the Scarabaeinae and its physical and biotic drivers; and, conservation of dung beetles. The content of the book is balanced in such a way that the information contained in it should be of interest to general entomologists, research specialists on dung beetle natural history, insects systematists, students of entomology, agricultural scientists and insect conservationists.

In many ecosystems dung beetles play a crucial role--both ecologically and economically--in the decomposition of large herbivore dung. Their activities provide scientists with an excellent opportunity to explore biological community dynamics. This collection of essays offers a concise account of the population and community ecology of dung beetles worldwide, with an emphasis on comparisons between arctic, temperate, and tropical species assemblages. Useful insights arise from relating the vast differences in species' life histories to their population and community-level consequences. The authors also discuss changes in dung beetle faunas due to human-caused habitat alteration and examine the possible effects of introducing dung beetles to cattle-breeding areas that lack efficient native species. "With the expansion of cattle breeding areas, the ecology of dung beetles is a subject of great economic concern as well as one of intense theoretical interest. This excellent book represents an up-to-date ecological study covering important aspects of the dung beetle never before presented."--Gonzalo Halffter, Instituto de Ecologia, Mexico City Originally published in 1991. The Princeton Legacy Library uses the latest print-on-demand technology to again make available previously out-of-print books from the distinguished backlist of Princeton University Press. These editions preserve the original texts of these important books while presenting them in durable paperback and hardcover editions. The goal of the Princeton Legacy Library is to vastly increase access to the rich scholarly heritage found in the thousands of books published by Princeton University Press since its founding in 1905.

This volume is a synthesis of existing knowledge about the flora and fauna of Costa Rica. The major portion of the book consists of detailed accounts of agricultural species, vegetation, amphibians, reptiles, mammals, birds, and insects. "This is an extraordinary, virtually unique work. . . . The tremendous amount of original, previously unpublished, firsthand information is remarkable."—Peter H. Raven, Director, Missouri Botanical Garden "An essential resource for anyone interested in tropical biology. . . . It can be used both as an encyclopedia—a source of facts on specific organisms—and as a source of ideas and generalizations about tropical ecology."—Alan P. Smith, Ecology

This book is a revised edition of the first of three volumes in the Handbook of Zoology series which treats the systematics and biology of Coleoptera. With over 380,000 described species, Coleoptera are by far the most species-rich order of insects and the largest group of animals of comparable geological age. Moreover, numerous species are tremendously important economically. The beetle volumes meet the demand of modern biologists seeking to answer questions about Coleoptera phylogeny, evolution, and ecology. This first Coleoptera volume covers the suborders Archostemata, Myxophaga and Adephaga, and the basal series of Polyphaga, with information on world distribution, biology, morphology of all life stages, phylogeny and comments on taxonomy.

'Social' insects and arachnids exhibit complex forms of behavior that involve cooperation in building a nest, defending against attackers or rearing offspring. This book is a comprehensive, up-to-date guide to sociality and its evolution in a wide range of taxa.

The Biology of the Coleoptera covers the branches of modern biology of Coleoptera. The book discusses the biological study of beetles; some skeletal peculiarities and the internal structures of the adults. The text also describes some structural features of larvae and pupae; food, digestion and the alimentary canal; and blood, osmoregulation, reserves, excretion and endocrine organs. The locomotion, respiration and energetics; the senses; and the cuticular properties, appearance, color and luminosity are also considered. The book further tackles the adult and larval behavior; the development and life-cycles; and the cytology and genetics. The text also looks into water beetles; special habitats; predation and defence; and symbiotic and parasitic relations. The ecological triangle: beetles, fungi and trees; and herbivorous beetles are also looked into. The book also discusses the role of beetles as ecological indicators; and the evolutionary history of beetles. Entomologists, ecologists, and biologists will find the book useful.