Insect (Arthropoda: Insecta) Composition in the Diet of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata) in Two Western Illinois Sand Prairies, with a New State Record for Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Authors

Reese J. Worthington, University of MississippiFollow
E. R. Sievers, Missouri State University
D. B. Ligon, Missouri State University
P. K. Lago, University of Mississippi

Document Type

Peer-Review Article

Abstract

A study of fecal samples collected over a two-year period from juvenile ornate box turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata Agassiz) revealed diets consisting of six orders of insects representing 19 families. Turtles were reared in captivity from eggs harvested from local, wild populations, and released at two remnant prairies. Identifiable insect fragments were found in 94% of samples in 2013 (n=33) and 96% in 2014 (n=25). Frequency of occurrence of insects in turtle feces is similar to results reported in previous studies of midwestern Terrapene species. A comparison of insect composition presented no significant difference between release sites. There is no significant difference in consumed insect species between turtles released into or outside of a fenced enclosure at the same site. Specimens of Cyclocephala longula LeConte collected during this study represent a new state record for Illinois.

Recommended Citation

Worthington, Reese J.; Sievers, E. R.; Ligon, D. B.; and Lago, P. K. 2017. "Insect (Arthropoda: Insecta) Composition in the Diet of Ornate Box Turtles (Terrapene ornata ornata) in Two Western Illinois Sand Prairies, with a New State Record for Cyclocephala (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)," The Great Lakes Entomologist, vol 50 (2)
DOI: https://doi.org/10.22543/0090-0222.1032
Available at: https://scholar.valpo.edu/tgle/vol50/iss2/5