Dung beetles  - 26th April 2006

You find them in lots of places in early spring. Very entertaining animals to watch. Who needs movies when you have...dung beetles.

From Wikipedia:

Dung beetles roll and burrow a dung ball either for food storage or for making a brooding ball. In the latter case, two beetles, one male and one female, can be seen around the dung ball during the rolling process. Usually it is the male which rolls the ball, with the female hitchhiking or simply following the ball.
In some cases the male and the female roll together. The rolling route must be a straight line, despite all obstacles. During the rolling process, other dung beetles may attempt to rob the ball. The attacker is usually a male. An ensuing fight is not uncommon. After the combat, the separated couple joins and continues their labour. When a spot with soft soil is found, the couple will stop and bury the dung ball. They will then mate underground. After the mating, both or one of them will prepare the brooding ball. When the ball is made, the female will then lay its eggs inside the ball. Some species will not leave after this stage, but stay and safeguard their offspring.

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