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Dung beetles have what's probably the most disgusting diet in the world. Day and night, these insects scurry around, searching for fresh piles of poop. This "food" is surprisingly nutritious, and the beetles' clean-up service keeps big loads of steaming dung from piling up everywhere. The beetles crave this food so much that they sometimes even fight each other for the best scraps.

Top of the Pile: Most dung beetles have flat heads that help them shovel poop, but males of some species have long, pointy horns. They use these horns to battle other males for the rights to mate with females.

Share the Poo: Several dung beetle flock to fresh animal droppings. To ensure that they each get their share, many dig burrows that open up under the dung-pile so they can eat in their own little space. Others make little balls and roll them away to munch on in solitude.

Try the Poo-Poo Platter[]

Dung Beetles Back Image

Dung Beetles flock to elephant manure at a rate of 4,000 in half an hour.

As disgusting as people think poop is, dung beetles can't get enough of it. Though dung contains a lot of waste, it's also packed with other things that actually gives it a good nutritional value for these insects, especially when it comes from a plant-eating animal. A big pile contains loads of partially digested plant matter; predators also provide plenty of protein with tiny scraps of meat. Fresh dung attracts flies, which often lay their eggs in dung. These eggs can be an added dietary bonus for a hungry dung beetle.

Waste Disposal: Dung beetles do a great service to the world by eating dung. More than 7,000 species of these beetles populate the world. Without them, scientists say that many places on Earth would be covered with poop.

Stinky Room: After a pair of dung beetles mate, the female seals herself in an underground, poop-filled nest. She crafts several balls from the dung, and lays an egg on each so her young will have plenty to eat when they hatch.

Pooper Scooper[]

  1. A dung beetle rolls a ball of dung away to eat it in peace, but another beetle flies by and takes notice. The newcomer would rather steal this ball than go make its own.
  2. The newcomer attacks the other dung beetle, trying to slide its head underneath the other's body to flip it over. The threatened beetle holds its ball tight with its hind legs.
  3. Ultimately, the newcomer overpowers the other beetle by flipping it up and rolling the dung ball over its original owner. The beaten beetle limps back to the dung pile for more.

Trivia[]

  • The dung beetle featured on the front is possibly a type of Rhinoceros dung beetle (Phanaeus demon).
  • The dung beetle is featured as prey on the Marabou Stork and Sandfish knowledge cards.
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