Australia’s 500 native beetles evolved with Australia’s native fauna and enjoy dung that is often hard and stringy. They don’t like sloppy cattle dung. If left untreated, livestock manure piles up and is problematic as it causes an increase in the number of flies. So dung beetles have been imported to eat and bury cattle dung. 23 species of imported beetles have become established in Australia. But there are still some gaps in geography and season, as dung beetles do not perform their function throughout the year. To address this, Valerie Caron is working to import new dung beetles to fill in the gaps.
Guest Valerie Caron Research Scientist CSIRO Health and Biosafety
Presenter Robyn Williams
Producer David Fisher
Broadcast on Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 02:01 Saturday, August 27, 2022 at 2:01 Sat. August 27, 2022 at 02:01
Sustainable and Alternative Agriculture, Entomology