Researchers discover a remarkable display of teamwork in dung beetles

Mitsuhiko Imamori/Corbis

A new study published in Proceedings of the Royal Society B reveals that dung beetles work together to roll dung balls, showing that pairs of beetles are faster than single ones and more adept at overcoming obstacles. Despite their brains being smaller than a grain of rice, the specifics of how these beetles manage to coordinate with each other in performing this task remains a mystery. This behavior demonstrates a fundamental type of teamwork among insects, suggesting that even small creatures are capable of complex interactions.

Source

“Male and Female Dung Beetles Coordinate to Roll Balls, Researchers Find.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 17 Jan. 2024, www.theguardian.com/science/2024/jan/17/male-and-female-dung-beetles-coordinate-to-roll-balls-researchers-find.