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Dance of the Dung Beetles: Their role in our changing world
The sweeping scientific and social history of the humble dung beetle
The humble and industrious dung beetle is a marvelous the 6,000 species identified so far are intricately entwined with human history and scientific endeavor. These night-soil collectors of the planet have been worshipped as gods, worn as jewelry, and painted by artists. More practically, they saved Hawaii from ecological blight, and rescued Australia from plagues of flies. They fertilize soil, cleanse pastures, steer by the stars, and have a unique relationship with the African elephant (along with many other ungulates). Above all, they are the ideal subject for biological study in an evolving world.
In this sweeping history of more than 3,000 years, beginning with Ancient Egypt, scientist Marcus Byrne and writer Helen Lunn capture the diversity of dung beetles and their unique behavior patterns. Dung beetles’ fortunes have followed the shifts from a world dominated by a religion that symbolically incorporated them into some of its key concepts of rebirth, to a world in which science has largely separated itself from religion and alchemy. With over 6,000 species found throughout the world, these unassuming but remarkable creatures are fundamental to some of humanity’s most cherished beliefs and have been ever present in religion, art, literature, science and the environment. They are at the center of current gene research, play an important role in keeping our planet healthy, and some nocturnal dung beetles have been found to navigate by the starry skies. Outlining the development of science from the point of view of the humble dung beetle is what makes this charming story of immense interest to general readers and entomologists alike.
The humble and industrious dung beetle is a marvelous the 6,000 species identified so far are intricately entwined with human history and scientific endeavor. These night-soil collectors of the planet have been worshipped as gods, worn as jewelry, and painted by artists. More practically, they saved Hawaii from ecological blight, and rescued Australia from plagues of flies. They fertilize soil, cleanse pastures, steer by the stars, and have a unique relationship with the African elephant (along with many other ungulates). Above all, they are the ideal subject for biological study in an evolving world.
In this sweeping history of more than 3,000 years, beginning with Ancient Egypt, scientist Marcus Byrne and writer Helen Lunn capture the diversity of dung beetles and their unique behavior patterns. Dung beetles’ fortunes have followed the shifts from a world dominated by a religion that symbolically incorporated them into some of its key concepts of rebirth, to a world in which science has largely separated itself from religion and alchemy. With over 6,000 species found throughout the world, these unassuming but remarkable creatures are fundamental to some of humanity’s most cherished beliefs and have been ever present in religion, art, literature, science and the environment. They are at the center of current gene research, play an important role in keeping our planet healthy, and some nocturnal dung beetles have been found to navigate by the starry skies. Outlining the development of science from the point of view of the humble dung beetle is what makes this charming story of immense interest to general readers and entomologists alike.
266 pages, Paperback
Published April 1, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
December 8, 2019
My son inscribed the inside cover of his Father’s Day gift to me with these touching words: ‘Like these little critters you have shown me that you have to deal with some crap if you want to make a difference in the lives of others. Keep on rolling!’
The 6000-species dung beetle family, named for the substance it feeds on and nests in, is a springboard for a social and scientific excursion that takes in Egyptian mythology and Christian theology, and ecological and evolutionary research. Among many fascinating tales, I particularly liked the story of how they saved Australia from a plague of flies following the introduction of domestic animals that produced dung that indigenous critters could not process. The export of the beetles from South Africa involved cloak-and-dagger operations to evade apartheid-era sanctions.
How animals, birds, fish and insects navigate is one of the great mysteries of nature, and the humble dung beetle has some amazing abilities. Marcus Byrne, professor at the University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, and his colleagues were awarded the 2013 Ig Nobel Prize for Biology/Astronomy for discovering that dung beetles use the Milky Way to navigate. [The Ig Nobel Prizes ‘celebrate the unusual, honour the imaginative, and spur people’s interest in science, medicine, and technology’. In short, work that that makes people LAUGH, and then THINK.] Some of the research was carried out in the university’s planetarium, where beetles were observed to alter the dung-rolling direction in response to changes in the ‘night sky’.
Popular science writing is an art as it seeks to both educate and entertain. While the writing sometimes lacks zing, the Dance of the Dung Beetles is certainly informative and amusing.
The 6000-species dung beetle family, named for the substance it feeds on and nests in, is a springboard for a social and scientific excursion that takes in Egyptian mythology and Christian theology, and ecological and evolutionary research. Among many fascinating tales, I particularly liked the story of how they saved Australia from a plague of flies following the introduction of domestic animals that produced dung that indigenous critters could not process. The export of the beetles from South Africa involved cloak-and-dagger operations to evade apartheid-era sanctions.
How animals, birds, fish and insects navigate is one of the great mysteries of nature, and the humble dung beetle has some amazing abilities. Marcus Byrne, professor at the University of the Witwatersrand Johannesburg, and his colleagues were awarded the 2013 Ig Nobel Prize for Biology/Astronomy for discovering that dung beetles use the Milky Way to navigate. [The Ig Nobel Prizes ‘celebrate the unusual, honour the imaginative, and spur people’s interest in science, medicine, and technology’. In short, work that that makes people LAUGH, and then THINK.] Some of the research was carried out in the university’s planetarium, where beetles were observed to alter the dung-rolling direction in response to changes in the ‘night sky’.
Popular science writing is an art as it seeks to both educate and entertain. While the writing sometimes lacks zing, the Dance of the Dung Beetles is certainly informative and amusing.
June 4, 2023
This book was not quite what I expected. I have read books about bees and flies and ants and other invertebrates, and always enjoy them, so I was sure I would like this one too. Perhaps it is my fault for not giving consideration to the implications of the subtitle, but I was surprised to discover that it is rather anthropocentric. Most of the book is not about the natural history of dung beetles, but rather about their cultural significance, their position in early religions, how early explorers and taxonomists dealt with them. Not uninteresting, but not what I was expecting.
Despite this, there are many tangential forays into matters of biology and ecology, so that by the end of the book I certainly did also learn a reasonable amount about the creatures themselves. Unfortunately the book only gets three stars because wading through so much historical detail rather detracted from the experience. Had the book been written with the lives of the beetles front and centre, with titbits of historical background embedded throughout — rather than the reverse – it could easily have been a five-star read.
Lastly, I listened to the audiobook and was disappointed by how many words the narrator botched. Not just scientific terms but even relatively common words ('antipodes', 'arboreal'...) were mispronounced or stressed in ways that changed the meaning (eg: stressing the first syllable of 'frequent' even when used as a verb).
Despite this, there are many tangential forays into matters of biology and ecology, so that by the end of the book I certainly did also learn a reasonable amount about the creatures themselves. Unfortunately the book only gets three stars because wading through so much historical detail rather detracted from the experience. Had the book been written with the lives of the beetles front and centre, with titbits of historical background embedded throughout — rather than the reverse – it could easily have been a five-star read.
Lastly, I listened to the audiobook and was disappointed by how many words the narrator botched. Not just scientific terms but even relatively common words ('antipodes', 'arboreal'...) were mispronounced or stressed in ways that changed the meaning (eg: stressing the first syllable of 'frequent' even when used as a verb).
February 14, 2023
While the long historical introduction to the topic was not the most engaging, once the authors get to the biology of these fascinating creatures the book begins to shine. Byrne and Lunn share the fascinating abilities of this lowly organism that show just how much nature can perfect and minimize. Aside from their biology, the book also highlighted the great ecological role they play and the benefits of introducing them to areas where they are not found natively. Lastly, their remarkable diversity makes them perfect specimens in the quest of answering deep questions of evolutionary theory. Definitely an interesting book if the non-historically minded reader can get past its first part.
February 12, 2024
I was hoping for more in the way of dung beetle behavior, ecology, evolution, and conservation. Instead, whenever possible, the book wandered into human history (cultural, religious, intellectual, scientific, etc.) with dung beetles as the jumping off point. Among those many excursions, the early section on Khepri, the dung-beetle faced Egyptian god associated with the rising sun and rebirth was the best.
June 20, 2020
Narrowly avoiding juvenile poop jokes, The Inquisitive Biologist reviews Dance of the Dung Beetles: a broad-ranging and charming introduction to the little-loved dung beetle. See my full review at https://inquisitivebiologist.com/2020...
Did Not Finish
February 15, 2021This book is well beyond my intellectual capabilities which is unfortunate because the first chapter had me engrossed in the lives of this under appreciated beetle.
I'm not sure of the right audience for this book, no matter how fascinating I believe the content likely is. DNF.
I'm not sure of the right audience for this book, no matter how fascinating I believe the content likely is. DNF.
March 21, 2025
Similarly to past reviews of this book, I was anticipating more of a biological/research perspective on the dung beetle versus what was given, which was an emphasis on cultural and human history. While these topics are interesting, the book was not written in a style which made it engaging.
August 31, 2022
A lot of history of science and scientists, not a lot about the beetles. When the beetles were actually written about, it was interesting information.
May 19, 2023
Who knew dung beetles were so interesting? Also how do I get a job making oven mitts for these crazy little insects?
July 7, 2024
Very eye opening and interesting but very different from what I expected.
April 23, 2020
Who would have thought that a poo-eating insect at the very bottom of the food chain could have acquired such a legendary reputation and been worthy of the most intense and detailed scientific research and discoveries? That it was revered by inter alia the Pharoahs and now today helping solve ecological problems in Hawaii and Australia? That it has helped throw up nuances on evolutionary ideas and, to this reader, become an ever more endearing 'gogga'? I knew about Marcus Byrne's work on dung beetles, but the world of natural science is surely richer for this prize-winning book. I congratulate him and Helen Lunn and at the same time was delighted to find a link to an old schoolfriend who actually worked on the Australian Dung Beetle project in the late 60s/early 70s. (I need to get him a signed copy - and I hope mine can be signed by the author, too.)
It is quite an academic work, but it lightened up for me from Chapter Three. Phenotypes, epigenetics and genetic codes are complicated and require concentrated reading - not sure I got even half of all that - but the entire book is so beautifully written with a lively turn of phrase that it is indeed, as a reviewer puts it, 'an entomological page-turner'. A hilarious but fascinating section is the description of the beetles' mating behaviour and how juvenile hormones revealed themselves in the oversized silkworms of Nelspruit Boy Scouts. 'Dance of the Dung Beetles' is wonderful from start to end. 5/5
It is quite an academic work, but it lightened up for me from Chapter Three. Phenotypes, epigenetics and genetic codes are complicated and require concentrated reading - not sure I got even half of all that - but the entire book is so beautifully written with a lively turn of phrase that it is indeed, as a reviewer puts it, 'an entomological page-turner'. A hilarious but fascinating section is the description of the beetles' mating behaviour and how juvenile hormones revealed themselves in the oversized silkworms of Nelspruit Boy Scouts. 'Dance of the Dung Beetles' is wonderful from start to end. 5/5
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews