1The Strongest Insects in the World
Imagine being able to push six double-decker buses all by yourself! That is exactly how strong a dung beetle is compared to its tiny size. These busy bugs spend their lives searching for animal droppings, which they turn into a perfectly round ball. Once the ball is ready, they have to move it as fast as possible to a safe hiding spot. To do this, they stand on their heads and push with their back legs, making them some of the most impressive weightlifters in the entire animal kingdom. They can move balls that are 50 times heavier than they are!
2Navigating by the Milky Way
The most amazing part of the dung beetle's journey happens at night. While humans use GPS or maps to find their way, these beetles look at the sky! They are the only known insects to use the Milky Way galaxy to navigate. By watching the faint glow of the stars and the patterns of light from the Moon, they create a "celestial compass." This helps them travel in a perfectly straight line, even when the ground is bumpy or covered in obstacles. Their special eyes can even see polarized light, which is a type of light that humans cannot see without scientific tools.
3Why a Straight Line is Key
You might wonder why a beetle is in such a hurry to roll in a straight line. In the wild, "dung-stealing" is a big problem! Other beetles are always looking for an easy meal and will try to hijack a finished ball. If a beetle rolls in circles, it stays in the same area for too long and is much more likely to get robbed. By using the stars to stay on a straight path, the beetle ensures it gets its food home quickly and safely. It is a brilliant survival strategy that proves you don’t need a big brain to be a master of astronomy!
