![]() |
||
![]() |
||
Nature's own pooper-scoopers keep Earth livable for all
of us If it were not for dung beetles, members of the scarab family, every terrestrial organism would be up to its eyeballs in you know what
Besides clearing the ground, the beetles' activity fertilizes the soil. Using dung beetles more efficiently in agriculture, according to one USDA scientist, could save U.S. farmers up to $2 billion a year by restoring grazing land, recycling the nitrogen that normally is lost to the atmosphere and reducing the populations of bloodsucking flies that stunt the growth of livestock. In Oklahoma, one rancher has counted 11 native species on his land. "Once the cattle have vacated the paddock," he reports, within 48 hours "there is no manure left." For the ancient Egyptians, the scarab symbolized regeneration and renewal. For modern ranchers, the dung beetle could be just as important. |
||
Abstract of an article by David C. Holzman, originally published in the June 1997 issue of Smithsonian Magazine. All rights reserved. Copyright 1997 Smithsonian Magazine All rights reserved. |