Overview of Dung Beetle Species in the UK
In the UK there are 60 species of dung beetle, approximately 50% of which are nationally scarce or listed as threatened. These insects provide important ecosystem services in grazing systems, including the recycling of dung from the surface into the soil, and reducing parasite burdens in livestock. Dung beetles and their larvae also make up an important part of the diet of other farmland wildlife such as hedgehogs, starlings, owls, and bats.
Importance to Agriculture
Accumulations of wet dung can provide a breeding ground for nuisance flies and parasitic worms if it is not broken down quickly. Dung beetles are able to locate fresh dung using their sensitive antennae and may show up within just 1 hour after it is deposited. Once they find the dung, they ‘drink’ the juices which causing it to dry out and make it less favourable livestock pests.
Types of Dung Beetles and Their Behaviour
In the UK dung beetles can be separated into 3 groups based on their behaviour: ‘dwellers’, ‘tunnellers’, and ‘stealers’.
Dwellers
Dwellers live and reproduce within the dung pat, using it as a food source and a place to lay their eggs.
Tunnellers
Tunnellers create burrows deep to construct brood chambers and bury dung for their larvae to feed on. This group of dung beetles helps to improve soil structure by incorporating organic matter beneath the surface and aerating the soil with their burrows.
Stealers
Stealers will take advantage of tunnellers by occupying existing tunnels and buried dung to lay their eggs.
Threats to Dung Beetles in the UK
The conversion of pasture to arable or developed land, coupled with the removal of livestock, has reduced the availability of dung that they require to complete their life cycles.
The amount of permanent pasture in the landscape has also decreased, whilst rotational grassland and herbal lays have become increasingly common in grazing systems. The latter requires periodic soil disturbance and may receive fertiliser applications, both of which are harmful to dung beetles. Furthermore, certain parasite treatments for livestock have been shown to reduce both the abundance and diversity of dung beetles.
Lastly, the removal of stock during the winter months can also be detrimental to some species of dung beetle which remain active during the winter months.
How You Can Help Dung Beetles
Keeping a small number of stock out over winter can help provide food for dung beetles throughout the year. This may not be possible in all grazing systems and provision of shelter is necessary. Your vet can provide advice as to which animals may be suitable.
Dung beetles do not like sloppy pats and those that are derived from high grain diets. Where pats are sloppy, increasing fibre in the animal’s diet not only benefits digestion, but will increase beetle abundance. This can be achieved by adding hay / straw / straw pellets, removing / reducing molasses, increasing rotation length or using multiple species in the sward as opposed to single-species grass swards.
Worming products are very harmful to dung beetles and other wildlife. Speak to your vet about ways of reducing risk of worm infections, natural pest management and targeted selective treatment. Even a small reduction in the use of parasite treatments can be beneficial.
Further Information and Enquiries
To find out more about the vital role of dung beetles, the benefits they bring, and how you can support them — or for any general species enquiries — please contact evan@norfolkfwag.co.uk.