We have many interesting bugs on our compound. Many of my teammates, particularly the younger ones, but also some older ones like me, enjoy finding new or unusual specimens and sharing them with each other.
Zakari and Amina came by recently to show me a very impressive dung beetle they had discovered. These creatures are pretty amazing. According to Wikipedia, dung beetles feed partly or exclusively on dung or feces. They possess exceptional dung disposal capacity and one dung beetle can bury dung that is 250 times heavier than itself in one night.
Many dung beetles roll dung into round balls, which are used as a food source or brooding chambers. Other dung beetles bury the dung wherever they find it. A third group neither roll nor bury the dung: they simply live in it.We currently have two cows on our compound to "mow" the grass, so there is lots of dung available.
I'd have to work on being that comfortable with such huge beetles! But, it's quite fascinating to read about in a post! I love seeing how the children are enjoying them.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comment, Tricia!
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