“In nature there is no such thing as waste. In nature nothing is wasted; everything is recycled”
David Suzuki
Dung beetles may be small, but the play a key role in the ecosystem. These tiny workers are ecosystem engineers. When they bury the dung, they help recycle nutrients back into the soil. By removing dung they prevent populations of parasitic flies from breeding in the fresh faeces of mammals.
They act as dispersal agents by taking seeds deposited in the dung to places far away. The dung provides the seed with nutrients for germination. As dung beetles roll, dig and tunnel, their actions aerate and mix the soil. This increases the organic matter content of the soil.
Dung beetles use the Milky Way to navigate their way at night. They can orient themselves to the bright stripe of light generated by our galaxy, and move in a line relative to it. Light pollution is a significant but overlooked driver of the rapid decline of insect populations. It can outshine the light from the Milky Way, thus severely hindering the navigation abilities of dung beetles. However, unlike other drivers of decline, light pollution is relatively easy to prevent. The most obvious action is to simply switch off lights that are not needed.
In South Africa, Addo National Park’s expansive elephant population makes it a haven for the scarce flightless dung beetle. Here, dung beetles have right of way. So, be sure to stop and appreciate these remarkable, hardworking insects.
“Read enough about the dung beetle, and a picture of its character emerges: patient, optimistic, uncomplaining”
Elif Batuman