Dung beetles are found globally, on every continent except Antarctica. Their activities revolve around animal droppings, which they use for food and breeding. This raises questions about how they locate their primary resource and whether they use flight to do so.
The Truth About Dung Beetle Flight
Most dung beetles can fly. They belong to the order Coleoptera, or “sheath-winged” insects, a name referring to their unique wing structure. Their forewings are hardened covers called elytra, protecting delicate, membranous hindwings underneath. For flight, the beetle lifts its elytra, allowing the hindwings to unfold and beat rapidly, generating lift and propulsion.
Why and When Dung Beetles Fly
Dung beetles fly primarily to locate fresh dung, which they use for food and reproduction. Their specialized antennae detect the scent of excrement from considerable distances, guiding their aerial search. Some species can travel several miles, with some flying up to 30 miles, to find suitable dung patches. Flight is also essential for finding mates and dispersing to new territories.
Flight timing varies; some species are diurnal (day active), while others are nocturnal (night active). Nocturnal species navigate using celestial cues like polarized moonlight or the Milky Way. Environmental factors such as air temperature and wind speed also influence flight activity. For some species, peak flight occurs about an hour after sundown.
Variations in Flight Among Species
While many dung beetles are accomplished flyers, not all species have the same flight capabilities. Some have reduced flight abilities or are entirely flightless. For example, Circellium bacchus, a flightless dung beetle in South Africa, has a tightly sealed wing case (elytra) that creates a cavity, which may assist in water conservation in arid environments.
Dung beetles are categorized into three types based on their dung-handling behavior: rollers, tunnelers, and dwellers. Rollers shape dung into balls and roll them away, often flying to locate suitable dung first. Tunnelers bury dung directly beneath the pat, while dwellers live within the dung pile. All three types rely on flight to find fresh deposits, as it is a common adaptation for locating this dispersed resource.
How Flight Contributes to Their Role
Dung beetle flight is integral to their ecological contributions. By rapidly locating and processing dung, they accelerate nutrient cycling, returning organic matter and nutrients to the soil. Their burrowing and burying activities also aerate the soil, improving its structure and water infiltration.
Dung beetle flight also helps control pest fly and parasite populations. By swiftly removing and burying dung, they eliminate breeding grounds for many fly species, reducing their numbers. This action also disrupts the life cycles of parasites that rely on dung, contributing to healthier ecosystems. Flight enables dung beetles to function as natural recyclers in diverse habitats.