Prevalence of coleopteran species in the litter of commercially reared birds

Numerous species of insects have been recorded from various types of manure in commercially reared birds from different parts of the world. This study was carried out to determine parasitic beetle populations in commercial rearing house litter from different regions of the West Azerbaijan province in Iran. Atotal of 60 samples of litter were collected from June 2008 to November 2009 from 20 poultry farms. The samples were examined parasitologically to detect and identify species of beetles (Coleoptera). Collected beetles belonged to three different species, of which Alphitobius diaperinus was the dominant species, with larvae and adults collected from 27 of the litter samples (45.0%). Dermestes maculatus larvae were found in 10 of the samples (16.6%), while Carcinops pumilio was collected from two samples (3.3%). Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed between the prevalence of A. diaperinus, D. maculatus and C. pumilio found in broiler houses and breeder houses. Although different beetle species, especially A. diaperinus, are vectors and reservoirs for various poultry pathogens, no standard field control strategies for beetles have been developed so far. Further studies are required about their prevalence and insecticide resistance profile in other parts of the country.