Dung beetles use stars for orientation
- Published: 25 Jan 2013 at 19.45
- Online news: World
Dung beetles use light from the Milky Way to roll their balls of precious dung out of the way of competitors, scientists reported on Friday.
A preparator puts the final touches on a dung beetle in preparation for an exhibition of giant insects at the Australian Museum in Sydney on June 11, 1996. Dung beetles use light from the Milky Way to roll their balls of precious dung out of the way of competitors, scientists reported.
Even though they have just a tiny brain and weak eyes, the beetles use the progressive gradient of light in the skies, provided by the galaxy's mass of stars, to ensure they roll the balls in a straight line and do not circle back to rivals at the dung pile.
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