The Sun, Moon, Stars, and the Dung Beetle

May 2017  :  Francine Jackson

Apparently, we are finally looking to celebrating the season of spring. We don't seem to have any more predicted snow, and our only major concern now will be what kinds of insects we will have to interact with this year. So far, I've already been introduced to the tick, hopefully for the last time, but there are many others out there, ready to mainly make our lives uncomfortable.

Fortunately, one insect we don't really have to worry about here, although it can be considered one of the reasons our Earth is swept relatively clean, is the dung beetle, that amazing insect that rolls whatever dung it can find, preferably that of herbivores, and uses it in various ways. If it weren't for these little creatures, our world would be a much dirtier place.

We have learned within the past decades that birds migrate by the sky, that they have an embedded program that allows them to travel by night by the stars. This has been determined several times by planetarium researchers; however, it is now learned that many form of insects also travel by the stars – in fact, there is an incredible planetarium show concerning the migration of monarch butterflies.

In shorter travels, it appears our dung beetle also is programmed to move by the sky. In 2003, scientists determined that one form of dung beetle navigates by using the polarization patterns in moonlight; however, more amazing is that the average beetle is actually taking a “mental snapshot” of the night sky. They perform a little dance on top of their dung balls, and, in doing so, are recording the positions of the Sun, Moon and the stars. With that information within their incredible little brains, they are then ready for a full day of work, then a direct line home.

I've always believed that insects are amazing, and, with this unbelievable piece of information, hopefully you do, also.