Hello ,

Dung beetles are very fascinating insects that render ecological services that make life better for everyone. They are specialized to eat and break down dung, and without them, we would've been in a very poopy situation!

Dung beetles don't just eat dung, but they also require it to raise their larvae. A female dung beetle will lay an egg into a dung ball and keep any fungus from growing on the ball while the larvae grow and pupates. An interesting fact is that the larvae in the dungball which is on top will hatch first followed by the one beneath it. The larvae in the deepest ball in the hole will hatch and emerge last. This is planned by the female to avoid traffic jams in the hole!

There are four major groups of dung beetles and these groups are separated by how they work with dung. The groups are Endocoprids, Paracoprids, Telecoprids and Kleptocoprids.

Endocoprids, also known as Dwellers, will stay inside or just beneath the dung where it was deposited. They will make a ball there and lay eggs on that ball of dung without moving the ball from where it was originally created.

Paracoprids or Tunnelers will dig a tunnel directly beneath where the dung was deposited, and will then take dung balls down into the earth.

Telecoprids or Rollers are the most well known of all the groups. They will make a ball and roll it away from the dung heap as far as possible to avoid competition. After the dung beetle is far enough from the original dung heap it will dig a hole and bury its ball.

Kleptocoprids or Thieves does exactly what their name suggests! As the lazy group of dung beetles, they will steal a dung ball from any of the other three groups.

So next time you are in a nature reserve please mind the Endocoprids in their homes on the road!

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