Dung Beetle

Description:

12 mm

Habitat:

Garden

Notes:

Dung Beetles belong to the superfamily Scarabaeoidea (Scarab beetles) Dung beetles are beetles that feed partly or exclusively on dung of animals. There are three categories Rollers, Tunnelers and Dwellers. Rollers roll dung into round balls, to use as a food source or brooding chambers. The Rollers bury balls, mate, and the female lays her eggs in the brooding balls. Fourth photo, found under Buffalo dung, is the vacated brooding balls. Tunnelers bury dung where they find it. Usually deep under the dung pile. Dwellers do not roll or burrow, but live in the dung. http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/244... Apparently because they are nocturnal they are the only known insect to navigate using the Milky Way. I get a lot of these fascinating Beetles attracted to my nightlight. Some as small as 3 mm.