The utilization of larval feces of scarab beetle, Xylotrupes gideon L.

Abstract

The scarab beetles (Xylotrupes gideon L.) are an important species in the forest ecological system in northern Thailand because their larvae feed on decaying plants and release feces into the soil which increase organic matter for the plant nutrient cycle. The experiment was conducted at Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna Nan, Nan province from October 2007–December 2008. The larval feces of scarab beetles reared on six diets: decayed sawdust from mushroom culture, fermented sawdust (30 days), fresh sawdust, decayed bamboo leaves, decayed weeds and decayed soybean roughs were tested on marigold for fertilizer properties. The randomized complete block design with eight treatments was used. The larval droppings were compared with cow manure and chemical fertilizer  (15-15-15) by using randomized complete block design. The results revealed that there was no statistically significant difference (P>0.05) in height, number of flower and diameter of flower among marigold with larval droppings of all formulas, cow manure and chemical fertilizer (15-15-15). Also, it was found that marigold supplemented with almost all kinds larval droppings had the averages of height, number of flower and diameter of flower that are higher than or equal to those of cow manure and chemical fertilizer (15-15-15).