Onthophagus gazella as an Intermediate Host for Spiruroids in Georgia and Texas

Thousands of Onthophagus gazella Fabricius from Georgia and Texas were examined for larvae of helminth parasiteds of livestock and wildlife. Beetles from Georgia had an infection rate of 2.3%, whereas no parasites were found in the Texas beetles. A thick stomach worm, Physocephalus sexalatus (Molin), was the most common of the 3 species of parasites found in O. gazella from Georgia. Several species of native dung beetles from both states harbored immature stages of 8 species of nematodes and at least 1 species of tapeworm.