The huge diversity of the insect world attracts naturalists and simply amateurs to observe wildlife. The dung beetle (scarab) is an interesting creature, one of the most ancient insects that inhabit our planet. They chose a rather unusual segment of the food chain.
Dung beetle: photo, habitat, features
A lot of herbivores live on the African continent. Many of them are quite large. For example, an elephant can eat up to a quarter ton of plant food per day. Most of this impressive mass naturally turns into waste. Huge heaps of manure become a haven for a variety of insects, for which they are not only a habitat, but also a food source. One such insect is the dung beetle.
In total there are about six hundred species. Many live on the African continent. All of them are adapted for the disposal of manure heaps. This is done according to a proven scheme.
A dung beetle rolls the animal droppings into a small spherical ball, collecting it with its front legs. This is done fast enough. Since, if the beetle hesitates and fumbles with one ball for a long time, then the manure will dry (which is undesirable). A fresh pile of elephant droppings can be disposed of by hordes of these insects in a very short time. Such high efficiency is very useful in farms in which cattle are bred. For example, in Australia, dung beetles were brought in specially to cope with the waste that was produced in increasing numbers by local livestock.
The purpose of the balls and the propagation of beetles
A dung beetle quickly forms a ball from fresh droppings and then rolls it to a secluded place.
His first task is to find a shaded plot of land. Sometimes this is not easy and the insect has to overcome more than a dozen meters. In a suitable place, the ball is buried in the ground. It will serve two purposes - food and reproduction. While the beetle is still young, it rolls dung balls in order to feed on them. And after reaching puberty, eggs will be laid in them. Of these, an adult dung beetle will subsequently develop. The larva, which will first hatch from the egg, will feed on the contents of the ball as it grows. The female scarab, which is located in the nest most of its time, has to add additional portions of fresh litter to the ball.
Beetle and Symbols
A black beetle with wings of a metallic hue was one of the most common and revered symbols of Ancient Egypt. The inhabitants of this country very carefully watched nature and the creatures that inhabit it. They noticed that the dung beetles were rolling their balls from east to west, as if repeating the path of the sun in the sky. Therefore, the scarab began to be considered a sacred insect, symbolizing the power of rebirth to life and creation. Various stamps, jewelry, amulets were made in the shape of a beetle. Various sculptures and details of tombstones in the form of scarabs have been preserved.
