Dung Beetle Dance Decoded?

Posted by NG Kids in News Bites on January 24, 2012
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Scientists have been taking a closer look at the “dance” that dung beetles perform on top of their dung balls. So why do the beetles dance? They’re using the sun to figure out which direction to travel. As the beetle moves on top of the dung ball, it is checking the position of the sun to help it navigate.

Read more about the dung beetle dance on the National Geographic News Watch blog.

Reunite dung beetles with their dung balls in the Dung Beetle Derby game.

Photograph by Chris Johns, National Geographic

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Categories: Animals

Comments

  1. barnowl24601
    January 25, 2012, 4:05 am

    Wow so cool!
    ]i am glad that we are finally learning more and more ab out our world and it’s wildlife! :)

    I have another question for News Bites:

    why do dung beetles roll dung all over the place? :)

    barnowl24601

  2. natureman784
    January 26, 2012, 12:34 pm

    thats really cool news
    one question why do they “perform” on top of the dungballs?

  3. barnowl24601
    February 2, 2012, 4:06 am

    so that other dung bettles don’t steal there dung!!

  4. ipadincalifornia
    April 14, 2012, 4:23 pm

    this is so cool..just kinda gross
    i mean ITS WALKING AND DANCING ON POOP!

  5. Saba123
    August 25, 2012, 1:42 am

    Even I have a question
    ‘Why do dung bees steal the bugs poop?’

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