What is it about Dung Beetles?
Building community awareness of the value of dung beetles for sustainable and productive agriculture
Community Participation - LP019-008
The issue
A seasonal gap in dung beetle activity was identified through research programs and past dung beetle surveys undertaken by Corowa District Landcare. Dung beetles are important for sustainable and productive agriculture, due to their ability to rapidly bury dung pads, reducing fly numbers in the summer and reducing gastrointestinal parasites for livestock. These little critters build tunnels that result in greater water retention in the soil, less nutrient run off, improved root penetration and increased soil aeration. The dung is a resource that is not being utilised.
The solution
Corowa District Landcare secured funding through the National Landcare Program’s Small Smart Farms grants to address the gap through the introduction of nursery colonies of the newly imported, spring active Onthaphagus vacca and Bubus bubalus dung beetles. This introduction was on multiple farms within the region. Additionally, paddock surveys were conducted to measure numbers and species of dung beetles in the wild population.
With project partners, Petaurus Education Group and Charles Sturt University’s Dung Beetle’s Ecosystem Engineers, CDL provided training and built capacity of landholders and students to increase awareness and knowledge of dung beetles in our region. Dung beetle nurseries were established with four landholders and two schools along with an educational program with three local primary schools.
The impact
CDL addressed this spring gap in dung beetle activity through the introduction of nursery colonies of spring-active dung beetles, with the release of over 5500 beetles within the region. The on-going establishment of dung beetles was monitored using an established protocol and an easy app.
The project also provided engagement with the broader community through workshops and displays, and with local schools by a teacher led year-long education program resulting in the production of a community written publication What is it about DUNG BEETLES? and video clip campaign that promoted the benefits of dung beetles for sustainable and productive agriculture (dung-beetle-smart-farms-project).
Key facts
- An increase in interest in dung beetles and their benefits within the local farming community
- A book called What is it about DUNG BEETLES? Produced.
- Introduction of spring-active dung beetles into the Corowa Federation Council Region