One large group of insects plays an unusual role in keeping the earth clean.
These are the dung beetles,which not only eat the dung left behind by plant eating animals but also use it as a nursery for their young by laying eggs in small dung balls.
The dung beetles,which include the sacred scarab of Egypt, break off pieces of dung, shape them into balls and roll them to their nests.
Some species may roll their dung balls more than 90 metres.
Dung beetles roll dung away because competition for this nutritious material is intense.Infact ,fierce battles often erupt.To defend its prize,the beetle holding a dung ball will climb onto it and grasp it with its four hind legs.It uses its front legs to repel attackers,flipping them off as they try to climb up the ball.
An African dung beetle cuts a piece of elephant dung.It uses its head and fore-legs to tamp the piece into a ball.
The beetle uses its hind legs to hold on to its harvest to prevent another beetle from stealing it.
Pushing with its powerful legs,the dung beetle rolls its dung ball to its nest.
When it find a good spot, the beetle digs a hole under the dung ball.In some instances,this hole may be 30 centimetres deep or more.
The female beetle moulds the dung ball into shape,lays one egg in the tip, and covers it with mud.
The cutaway of a dung ball shows the egg's location and the protective mud.
These are the dung beetles,which not only eat the dung left behind by plant eating animals but also use it as a nursery for their young by laying eggs in small dung balls.
The dung beetles,which include the sacred scarab of Egypt, break off pieces of dung, shape them into balls and roll them to their nests.
Some species may roll their dung balls more than 90 metres.
Dung beetles roll dung away because competition for this nutritious material is intense.Infact ,fierce battles often erupt.To defend its prize,the beetle holding a dung ball will climb onto it and grasp it with its four hind legs.It uses its front legs to repel attackers,flipping them off as they try to climb up the ball.
An African dung beetle cuts a piece of elephant dung.It uses its head and fore-legs to tamp the piece into a ball.
The beetle uses its hind legs to hold on to its harvest to prevent another beetle from stealing it.
Pushing with its powerful legs,the dung beetle rolls its dung ball to its nest.
When it find a good spot, the beetle digs a hole under the dung ball.In some instances,this hole may be 30 centimetres deep or more.
The female beetle moulds the dung ball into shape,lays one egg in the tip, and covers it with mud.
The cutaway of a dung ball shows the egg's location and the protective mud.
