There are over 800 species of dung beetle in Southern Africa. The Flightless Dung Beetle (Circellium bacchu) is a very rare subspecy only found in the Addo Elephant Park and surrounding reserve.
The flightless dung beetle is regarded as one of the largest species of dung beetles in the world. They can roll up to 50 times their own weight!
As opposed to wings, flightless dung beetles have a tightly sealed elytra (wing case), which creates a convective cooling system where heat is drawn away from their body. Thus, they are perfectly suited to hot regions.
They feed on elephant, rhino and buffalo excrement. The dung serves many purposes for these beetles, which include a source of nourishment, an ideal den for breeding, and a gift to lure in a female for some male species.
When they roll their dung along the ground, the movement helps to aerate the soil and fertilize the ground by spreading animal matter like compost.
According to recent studies in South Africa, dung beetles use the Milky Way to navigate their way at night and move in a line to reflect it. Astonishingly, they are the first known species to do this in the entire animal kingdom.
Source – Shamwari Private Game Reserve
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