The Mighty Dung Beetle

While the majority of the human creation quivers at the thought of ingesting manure, the mighty fertilize beetle rises to the challenge, and substance abuses the manure in whimsical ways. Without goop beetles, pastures would be overrun with manure and flies- and parasites would run amuck. Im no expert but according to the Sustainable Parasite steering division at the University of Pretoria in South Africa, affectionately cognise as PU, the fertilise beetle is beneficial to our environment. They help keep the discolouration cleaner, reduce pollution and algae formation in our waters, and acts as an natural pooper scooper for our movestock farms.First lets begin by identifying the varied types of droppings beetles. These meadow muffin munchers be divided into three classifications, Rollers, Tunnellers and Dwellers. The Rollers do just that.. they roll the prairie patties into smooth, round balls called pout balls. hence they roll the brood balls away to a more desirable location. Once the rollers find the consummate location for their new abode, they bury it into the ground. The female leave lay a iodine egg into the brood ball and then coat and shut it with a mixture of goop, saliva, and of course, her own fecal matter.After the egg hatches, the foul up dung beetle devours the dung and lives in the brood ball until it reaches maturity. Then there are the Tunnellers. They dig delves in the ground in depths of between a few centimeters to 1 meter. This is large enough for them to live and take up around in. Once the tunnel has been dug, they pull the manure in to the tunnel and place it throughout. Inside their new home is where the female lays her eggs. Storing the manure surreptitious helps keep it fresh and protects the growing babies from predators and parasites.The last of the waste managers are the Dwellers who live on go of the pasture patty. The female lays her eggs on top of manure piles, and the entire development from egg to v ainglorious takes place wrong the pile. Dwellers are smallest of the three and they seem to like cow patties the best for elevator a family. The adults can be found in fresh, moist droppings, time the babies are slowly growing in dung that is drying out. Now that you kip down a little about the different types of dung beetles, lets see how they are drawn to manure.Dr.Patricia Richardson, Research Associate at the University of Texas, states, adult dung beetles are drawn to manure by odor. Many are species-specific in that they prefer a certain type of animal manure. exclusively like people searching for the perfect home, the dung beetle will fly up to ten miles in search of just the serious patty. They can attack dung pats within seconds after they drop. Some dung beetles will even hitch a ride near the pursue of animals in anticipation of a deposit. Once drawn by the odor, the adults use the liquid contents of the manure for their nourishment.In addition a single cow patty c an attract 60-80 adult flies. That would be a lot of flies if it were not for the competitive dung beetle. With all of the axial motion and tunneling and dwelling of the dung beetle, flies and other harmful parasites dont have a chance. Our society isnt the first to appreciate the contributions of the dung beetles. The scarab is in the roller family of dung beetles. Yep The Egyptians have long been know to have a fascination with the dropping dwellers. Jewelry has been crafted and carvings have been drafted in admiration of our mighty dung friends.In summation while the dung beetle keeps the soil cleaner, reduces pollution and algae formation in our waters, and acts as an organic pooper scooper for our livestock farms, it is also important to understand by removing the dung pat from its original location, this helps cut down on the fly population which is attracted to the dung pat. By making tunnels this will increase soil capacitor to absorb and hold water. Therefore one can see how the dung beetle is very important to our environment. So if you really look at it, the world would be a much smeller place if it were not for the gumptious efforts of the dung beetles.