It’s hard to imagine anyone or anything searching far and wide for good poop, but that’s just what dung beetles do. And not just any dung will do, they seek to find the best.
The first question ‘fresh’ on our mind may be how or why dung beetles are creatures worthy of our management efforts. After all, the role of managing manure isn’t the most glamorous. But dung beetles are ecosystem managers. In essence, they are the kings and queens of dung removal. They also rework soils, aiding in soil aeration, enrichment, biodiversity, and water infiltration. Dung beetles play a key role in pest suppression, breaking down manure piles quickly which reduces the conditions required for flies and parasites to complete their lifecycle. Dung beetles also play a role in the quick regeneration of plant growth for forage and cover, and they are a source of food for many other animals including birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and even other insects. Like nearly all organisms in nature, dung beetles are just another important piece of the puzzle within and among the healthy habitats and ecosystems we try to manage for.
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