Dung beetles are miracle agricultural engineers, through their actions of tunneling dung into the soil, they aerate the ground, reducing water and nutrient run-off, improving soil health, which all leads to improved pasture and crops with greater access to nutrients.  Dung beetles also reduce pests such as flies by interrupting their reproductive cycle by removing their breeding grounds(livestock dung).

There are around 500 species of dung beetle native to Australia, perfectly adapted to process and utilize the dung of our native species, primarily marsupials. So, who is dealing with the 80 million tons of dung left annually by livestock such as cattle and sheep?

In 1966 CSIRO imported 43 species of dung beetle better adapted to livestock dung to help find a solution to this problem. Twenty-three out of these imported species have become established in Australia and are leading the way to improving the utilization of livestock dung.

Southern Farming Systems has been involved in several identification programs in the southwest of Victoria, Gippsland, and Tasmania. As the days grow colder, winter dominant varieties of dung beetle are starting to appear. The most common species of dung beetle you are likely to see at this time of year include:

A range of native and introduced beetles in the Onthophagus genus,

• O. taurus (introduced)
• O. australis (native)
• O. granulatus (native)

The biggest ones that you might see at this time of year are:

• Bubas bison (introduced)
• Geotrupes spiniger (introduced)

If you are interested in learning more about the dung beetles in your area, there are many great publications that have been published by Meat & Livestock Australia and Dung Beetle Ecosystem Engineers that can be found online and ordered in hard copy.

Southern Farming Systems with Corangamite CMA, Geelong Landcare Network & Upper Barwon Landcare Network, funded by a Victorian Landcare Grant will hold a workshop in Teesdale on Sunday 16th July to discuss the density and diversity of Dung Beetle species and how to identify them in your backyard.  More information about the event visit www.sfs.org.au/events

By Grace Evans, Senior Research & Extension

Image: Bubas bison (introduced species)