Dung beetles play a very important role in the health ant
the fertility of natural grassland
Ancient Egyptians thought very highly of the dung beetle,
believing that the dung beetle kept the Earth revolving like a giant ball of
dung, linking the insect to Khepri, the Egyptian god of the rising sun.
Dung beetles belong to the family Scarabaeoidea; with most
of the species being placed in the subfamilies Scarabaeinae and Aphodiinae
(scarab beetles). Most species of Scarabaeinae feed exclusively on feces and
are known as true dung beetles. There are dung-feeding beetles which belong to other
families, such as the Geotrupidae (the earth-boring dung beetle). The subfamily
Scarabaeinae alone has more than 5,000 species.
The dung beetles known as rollers, roll dung into round
balls, which are used as a food source for their larvae to develop on are
rolled and buried in brooding chambers that are dug into the ground. Others,
known as tunnelers, bury the dung wherever they find it. A third group, the
dwellers, neither roll nor burrow, they simply live in manure.
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Dung beetles live in many habitats, including desert,
farmland, forest, and grasslands. They do not prefer extremely cold or dry
weather. They are found on all continents except Antarctica. They eat the dung
of herbivores and omnivores, and prefer that produced by the former. Many of them
also feed on mushrooms and decaying leaves and fruits. Those that eat dung do
not need to eat or drink anything else, because the dung provides all the
necessary nutrients. Most dung beetles search for dung using their sensitive
sense of smell. Some smaller species simply attach themselves to the
dung-providers to wait for the dung. After capturing the dung, a dung beetle
rolls it, following a straight line despite all obstacles. Sometimes, dung
beetles try to steal the dung ball from another beetle, so the dung beetles
have to move rapidly away from a dung pile once they have rolled their ball to
prevent it from being stolen. Dung beetles can roll up to 10 times their
weight.
Male Onthophagus taurus beetles can pull 1,141 times their
own body weight: the equivalent of an average person pulling six double-decker
buses full of people. No wonder the dung beetle is known as one of the
strongest animals for its size.
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In 2003, researchers found one species of dung beetle the
African Scarabaeus zambesianus navigates by using polarization patterns in
moonlight. The discovery is the first proof any animal can use polarized
moonlight for orientation. In 2013, a study was published revealing that dung
beetles can navigate when only the Milky Way or clusters of bright stars are
visible the only insect known to orient itself by the galaxy.
The "rollers" roll and bury a dung ball either for
food storage or for making a brooding ball. In the latter case, two beetles,
one male and one female, stay around the dung ball during the rolling process.
Usually it is the male that rolls the ball, while the female hitch-hikes or
simply follows behind. In some cases, the male and the female roll together.
When a spot with soft soil is found, they stop and bury the ball, then mate
underground. After the mating, both or one of them prepares the brooding ball.
When the ball is finished, the female lays eggs inside it. Some species do not
leave after this stage, but remain to safeguard their offspring. The larvae
live in brood balls made with dung prepared by their parents. During the larval
stage, the beetle feeds on the dung surrounding it. The dung beetle goes
through a complete metamorphosis.
Dung beetles play a highly important role in the environment
by taking animal dung that could spread various diseases amongst grazing
animals and burry it in the root zone where it can be useful to the veld
grasses, herbs, bacteria and fungi not leaving out the fertility and general health
and structure of the soil. By burying and consuming dung, dung beetles improve
nutrient recycling and soil structure simultaneously protecting domestic livestock,
such as cattle goats and sheep as well as indigenous game from disease by
removing the dung which, if left, could provide habitat for pests and diseases.
Most dung beetles specialize on the dung of particular
animals, or types of animals, and will not touch the dung of other species.
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Sisyphus species - spider dung beetles
Small to medium beetles 3-12 mm black dark grey or brown
hind legs very long move very energetically
Adults congregate to feed on fresh dung in particular the
dung of small animals. They also feed on the dung of tortoises, birds, toads
and large carnivores. The Sisyphus species form dung balls which they roll away
to be buried approximately 50 mm below the surface. A single egg is laid in
each ball. Sisyphus species are particularly active on hot humid days following
rain. Like magic dung that has been dropped on the ground disappears due to the
efforts of these highly energetic little creatures. In my case they are particularly
attracted to the dung of my sheep in preference to goat dung.
Spider Dung Beetles Sisyphus specie rolling a dung ball
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Michael Hickman
Landscape Design and Rehabilitation Specialist
www.ecoman.co.za
michael@ecoman.co.za
25.01.16
