One of the most disregarded species that offers a remarkable role in our ecosystem are the dung beetles. The dung beetles are a globally distributed insect group. They feed on manure to provide food and housing and improve the soil structure of the area they are on. Dung beetles color ranges from red to brown to black. They are extremely abundant and a few dozen may be attracted to a single droppings in both temperate and tropical areas. They are separated in different taxonomic groupings and are part of the Arthoropoda phylum. Caleoptera, the most common type of beetle, that have a pair of wings in the front and the rear that is hardened and thickened into a shell-like for protection. Scarabaeoidea, Aphodiinae and Scarabaeidae are families that does not consume dung all the time. Geotrupidae, earth boring beetles and Scarabaeinae, are true dung beetles on the other hand that feed exclusively on droppings. Dung beetles live in numerous natural surroundings, including forests, meadows, desert, and farmlands. The dung beetles are found worldwide, on almost every continent except Antarctica, though they don't favor extremely cold or dry weather. There are three nesting strategies that are applicable to manure recycling. The first group of beetles that use dung are called the endocoprid or "dwellers". Most …show more content…
Dung beetles bury nearly all small seeds present in the dung, but as small seeds face constrains on maximal burial depth for successful germination, the average burial depth by dung beetles may contribute more to small seed dispersal in areas with elevated rodent seed predator. Secondary seed dispersal is common to dung beetles. The effect of dung beetles on small seeds is broadly unknown given the challenges in the future fate of the