Environmental Benefits of Dung Beetles
Dung Beetles are unsung environmental heros. They play a vital role in the ecosystem, in the words of Dr. Bruce E. Gill, a scarab researcher at Agricultural Canada “if it weren’t for Dung Beetles, we’d be up to our eyeballs in you-know-what”.(1) Dung Beetles contribute to the ecosystem in a number of important ways. They recycle nutrients(the Tunnelers and Rollers) back into the soil which would normally sit at the surface(as poop) and result in run-off, through this they also enhance plant growth and aerate the soil. They help disperse and plant seeds via the dung they bury containing seeds within it. They suppress parasites and disease by burying them underground and removing the environment which they breed in and they reduce the fly population by reducing the fly’s breeding environment.(2) Because of these positive effects, Dung Beetles have been used to handle poop problems.
20 minute time lapse video of dung beetles disassembling dog poop, credit goes to Mark Smith
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The most grand example of Dung Beetles being used in this way was the “Australian Dung Beetle Project” which was a project by the Australian government started in 1965 and continued through 1985.(1) During this time specific species(starting with Onthophagus gazelle)of Dung Beetles were imported to Australia to establish colonies.(3) The project was in response to the massive buildup of cattle dung from farming. Prior to the colonization of Australia by Europeans there were no cows, the Dung Beetles that existed on the continent had evolved to handle the dung of native Australian species and were not able to handle cow poop. The result was a landscape littered with cow droppings which took months(or more) to decompose. These droppings reduced useable grazing land, polluted the water system through run-off and served as a breeding ground for parasites and pests(particularly the dreaded bush-fly).(3)
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The project is considered to be a huge success. Many parts
of Australia have been freed from infestation of dung breeding flies and
pastures which were once coated with poop have been restored to full usability.(1)
The project has even been credited for the reason Australians are able to enjoy
eating outside as in 1950s the bush-fly problem was so bad that restaurants
were banned from serving food there unless nets were set up.(3)
Dung Beetles are also being studied as an aid to organic vegetable farmers. It is hoped that by populating farms with Dung Beetles the risk of E.coli and other bacteria (which are spread through and grow in poop) can be reduced by the beetles.(4) |
Sources:
(1) http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/10/science/in-recycling-waste-the-noble-scarab-is-peerless.html
(2) http://www.esf.edu/efb/gibbs/efb419/scarabs.pdf
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Dung_Beetle_Project
(4) https://news.wsu.edu/2014/09/30/natures-pooper-scoopers-can-dung-beetles-improve-food-safety/#.VOqg14d3GDY
(1) http://www.nytimes.com/1991/12/10/science/in-recycling-waste-the-noble-scarab-is-peerless.html
(2) http://www.esf.edu/efb/gibbs/efb419/scarabs.pdf
(3) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_Dung_Beetle_Project
(4) https://news.wsu.edu/2014/09/30/natures-pooper-scoopers-can-dung-beetles-improve-food-safety/#.VOqg14d3GDY