Dung beetles, as the name implies, are beetles that feed on dung. The most prominent trait of this beetles is that they roll dung into round balls, which are either used as food supply or as brooding chamber where their off-springs hatch and grow.
To search for dung, dung beetles make use of their sensitive sense of smell, while some species simply attach themselves to dung-providers (usually herbivores) to wait for their sumptuous meals. Some cunning dung beetles will try to steal dung balls from another, so when dung pile is found they have to roll dung ball rapidly away to prevent theft.
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| Two dung beetles rolling dung ball |
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| Dung beetle larva hatches within dung ball Source: Click here |
Some species have interesting mating ritual. The male and female first meet at the dung pile, if love at first sight occurs, the male will start to make a dung ball. The female will ride on the dung ball as the male rolls it away. During this period, other males will try to steal her and the dung ball from him. When they finally arrive at the burial spot (soft ground), together they bury the dung ball and mate. The male will leave and find the next mating partners. Some species the females will stay and wait till the eggs are hatched, while some will leave after mating. The dung ball provides all necessary nutrients for the larvae to feed and become mature.
Dung beetles benefit the nature through recycling dung to nutrients-rich soil for agriculture. Without them, the animal kingdom would be inundated with feces, try to imagine a world without Dung Beetle!
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