Adverse effects of ivermectin on the dung beetles, Caccobius jessoensis Harold, and rare species, Copris ochus Motschulsky and Copris acutidens Motschulsky (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae), in Japan

• Published in: Bulletin of entomological research 2007-12, Vol.97 (6), p.619-625
• Main Authors: Iwasa, M., Maruo, T., Ueda, M., Yamashita, N.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: adverse effects; Animal, plant and microbial ecology; Animals; Antiparasitic Agents - analysis; Antiparasitic Agents - pharmacokinetics; Applied ecology; Biological and medical sciences; brood balls; Cattle; cattle dung; Coleoptera; Coleoptera - drug effects; Copris; Copris ochus; drug residues; dung beetles; eclosion; Ecotoxicology, biological effects of pollution; Effects of pollution and side effects of pesticides on protozoa and invertebrates; endangered species; feces; Feces - chemistry; Feces - parasitology; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; insect brood; insect reproduction; ivermectin; Ivermectin - analysis; Ivermectin - pharmacokinetics; ivermectin residues; Japan; Male; mortality; nontarget organisms; Reproduction - drug effects; Scarabaeidae; toxicity
• ISSN: 0007-4853; 1475-2670
• DOI: 10.1017/S0007485307005329

Effects of the antiparasitic drug, ivermectin, on the dung beetles, Caccobius jessoensis Harold, 1867 and the rare species, Copris ochus Motschulsky, 1860 and Copris acutidens Motschulsky, 1860 were studied in laboratory and field experiments in Hokkaido, Japan. Ivermectin was detected in dung from 1 to 21 or 28 days following treatment, with a peak on the first day after treatment in two pour-on administrations (500 μg kg−1), although there were considerable differences between the two peaks. In C. jessoensis, brood balls constructed by the female were not reduced in the dung of treated cattle except for seven days after treatment in experiment 2. Also, there was no significant difference in the mean weight of brood balls between dung from treated and control cattle. However, the emergence rates were significantly reduced in dung 1–3 days after treatment. In the field study, brood balls constructed by C. jessoensis were more abundant in dung from treated cattle in experiment 1, but adult emergence was significantly reduced at one and seven days after treatments. Adult mortality of C. ochus Motschulsky at 90 days after the beginning of rearing was 11.1% in dung from control cattle with 22 brood balls constructed, whereas it was 84% in dung from treated cattle with no brood balls and/or ovipositioning. Also, in C. acutidens Motschulsky, adult mortality at 90 days after the beginning of rearing was 3.6% in dung from control cattle with 13 brood balls constructed, whereas it was 94.1% in dung from treated cattle with no brood balls or ovipositioning. The environmental risk in the use of ivermectin during breeding period of dung beetles in pasture is discussed.