Dung Beetles Scarabaeidae

Beetles, especially their larvae, are among nature's recyclers of debris, corpses and other dead matter and even animal dung. There are thousands of species of dung beetles throughout the world, doing a vital service, but they can be divided into three main groups: the dung dwellers that live in the dung with their family; the earth borers that tunnel a hole in the ground for their young and drop dung down the hole (sometimes beneath the dung heap); and the iconic dung rollers that form dung into a ball and roll it, sometimes over long distances and with multiple trips, to their home.

The ancient Egyptians even worshipped the dung beetle - the Sacred Scarab. The borers and rollers often have raised spines on their front limbs for better grip.

Thanks to Alexandra Makhhina for the photos of dung rollers in action in Kazakhstan.