Re: dung beetles

[Dino Guy Ralph <ralph.miller@alumni.usc.edu>]

Yes, Dr. Karen Chin has found putative dung beetle tunnels in blocky 
_Maiasaura_ coprolites in the Two Medicine Formation.  The larger coprolites 
measured approximately 24cm x 33cm x 34cm (9.5" x 13" x 13.5").  The 
coprolites contained conifer stem fragments.  The backfilled tunnel 
diameters varied, indicating that several species of dung beetle fed upon 
_Maiasaura_ droppings (as it is only full grown dung beetles that excavate 
dung to provision their offspring).  The tunnels, with diameters of 1cm to 
3.2cm (.4" to 1.25"), indicate that these Mesozoic dung beetles were in the 
same size range as contemporary dung beetles.

See:
Chin, K., and Gill, B. D. (1996). Dinosaurs, dung beetles, and conifers: 
Participants in a Cretaceous food web.  _Palaios_ vol 11, pages 280-285, 
1996.

See also:
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1511/is_n3_v15/ai_15186878
http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1200/is_n12_v150/ai_18711656
http://darwin.apnet.com/dinosaur/chin.htm
http://www.suite101.com/print_article.cfm/4003/31244
http://www.cybergeo.com/dungbeetles.html

--------
"Dino Guy" Ralph W. Miller III
Docent at the California Academy of Sciences
proud member of the Society of Vertebrate Paleontology