Since Aphodius constans - the test organism of the existing Guidance Document OECD 122 (2010) - is only active during winter months and wild catches are required to conduct a study, an alternative species Onthophagus taurus is useful since cultures of this species can be maintained in the laboratory and synchronised beetles can be used for tests all year round. Moreover, instead of acute and developmental endpoints as for A. constans, chronic endpoints such as reproduction can be using O. taurus.
First commenting round for the draft revised Guidance Document on the determination of the toxicity of a test chemical to the dung beetle Aphodius constans and Onthophargus taurus
- Submission period
- 30 October - 11 December 2024
Background public consultation
Project description
The main object of this project is the inclusion of the test protocol for the tunnelling dung beetle Onthophagus taurus into the existing Guidance Document OECD 122 (2010). The inclusion of O. taurus was already intended by the project submitted in 2007, which resulted in the Guidance Document OECD 122 (2010) with Aphodius constans as test organism, but at that time the protocol for O. taurus was not finally established. This issue has now been resolved and an improved test protocol for O. taurus is available, the resulting revised Guidance Document now combines two species with different reproductive strategies. The revised Guidance Document has been reviewed by the dedicated Expert Group prior to starting the review by the Working Party of National Coordinators of the Test Guidelines Programme.
How to contribute
The draft revised Guidance Document is currently under a commenting round by the Working Party of the National Coordinators of the Test Guidelines Programmes and open for comments from the public at the same time. Interested parties are invited to contact their National Coordinators prior to 11 December 2024.
