Dung beetles play a vital role in farming ecosystems such as those found in the Camden area by efficiently breaking down animal waste.
As they tunnel and bury dung, these industrious beetles enhance soil aeration, nutrient cycling, and pasture health. Their activities improve soil structure, reduce pests like flies, and mitigate the spread of livestock parasites. In essence, dung beetles offer natural and sustainable solutions that benefit both agricultural productivity and environmental conservation on farms.
Imagine Australia without dung beetles. Put simply, we’d be drowning in poo. Australia has more than 500 native dung-beetle species, but they feast on marsupial poo, which is dry and compact. They don’t clear away large, moist cow pats – a huge problem, considering there are nearly 30 million head of cattle in Australia. The average cow or bull unloads up to 12 dung pads a day, and the accumulation can pollute waterways, foul pastures and encourage flies and parasitic worms by providing an ideal breeding ground. One large pad can produce 3000 bush flies in a fortnight.
Enter CSIRO’s Dung Beetle Program. Since the 1960s, scientists in Australia have been importing dung beetles to restore the ecological imbalance caused by European agriculture. It’s one of the great success stories of biological control, with 44 exotic dung-beetle species introduced into Australian ecosystems and 23 becoming established. By rolling and burying cattle dung, the beetles remove the breeding grounds of flies, aerate soil, and recycle its nutrients. The program claims to have reduced bush-fly populations by 90 per cent.
For more information visit Australian Geographic. Also checkout this great kids video below.