Dung
beetles also
referred to as the
scarab beetle. All of these species belong to the super family Scarabaeoidea. Many
dung beetles, known as
rollers, are noted for rolling dung into
spherical balls, which are used as a food source or brooding chambers.
Other dung beetles, known as tunnelers,
bury the dung wherever they find it. A third group, the dwellers,
neither roll nor burrow: they simply live in manure. They are usually attracted
by the dung burrowing owls collect. Dung beetles live in many different
habitats, including desert, farmland, forest, and grasslands.
Dung
beetles eat dung excreted by herbivores and omnivores, and prefer that produced
by the former. Many of them also feed on mushrooms and decaying leaves and fruits.
Most dung beetles search for dung using their sensitive sense of smell. Some of
the smaller species simply attach themselves to the dung-providers to wait for
their reward.
Sometimes
dung beetles will try to steal the dung ball of 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 50 times their
weight. Male can pull 1,141 times their own body weight: the equivalent of an
average person pulling six double-decker buses full of people.
The "rollers" roll and bury a dung
ball either for food storage or for making a brooding ball. In the some case, two beetles, one male and one
female, will be seen around the dung ball during the rolling process. Usually
it is the male that rolls the ball, with the female hitch-hiking or simply
following behind. When a spot with soft soil is found, they stop and bury the
dung ball.
They
will then mate underground. After the mating, both or one of them will prepare
the brooding ball. When the ball is finished, the female lays eggs inside it. The
dung beetle goes through a complete metamorphosis.
Dung
beetles play a remarkable role in agriculture,as they improve nutrient
recycling and soil structure. They also protect livestock, such as cattle, by
removing the dung which, if left, could provide habitat for pests such as flies.
Like many other insects, in China,it
is used in Chinese herbal medicine. Several
species of the dung beetle, enjoyed a sacred status among the ancient Egyptians.
The scarab was linked to "Khepri", the god of the rising sun.
By
Kenya safari holiday desk
Natural Track Safaris