Dung beetles: expedition unearths new species on Mozambique’s Mount Mabu: A landscape view of Mabu Forest, Zambezia, Mozambique. Gimo Daniel/Author. Mount Mabu in north central Mozambique supports the largest continuous block of rainforest in southern Africa. The Mabu Forest was originally inhabited by hunters of the Manhawa ethnic group. Its name refers to “beekeeping” in …
How beetles trick bees into feeding them food rich in nutrients: African bees trying to block beetles from damaging the hive end up inadvertently feeding them. Chamanti Laing, Social Insects Research Group Honey bees are useful not only to humans but to other “free riders” attracted to their stored resources. The small hive beetle (Aethina …
The insect brain: we froze ants and beetles to learn how they remember their way home: We humans are versatile and accomplished navigators, but insects might have navigation skills that are even better. For them, it’s literally a matter of life and death – and that’s why we decided to freeze some ants and beetles …
Skyglow forces dung beetles in the city to abandon the Milky Way as their compass: A dung beetle climbs atop its precious ball to orient itself using the night skies. Chris Collingridge Globally, nights are becoming ever brighter. Increasing urbanisation and the installation of new streetlights, security floodlights and outdoor ornamental lighting all contribute to …
Flesh-eating bugs: new research shows how carrion beetles turn death into life: A female burying beetle caring for her brood. Oliver Krueger It was Halloween and the discussion had inevitably turned to death – and flesh-eating zombies. I had just finished lunch at a “research away day” when I got caught up in a conversation …
Belligerent beetles show that fighting for mates could help animals survive habitat loss: En garde! BaLL LunLa/Shutterstock Animals around the world are seeing their environments change. Climate change is causing heating and changes to weather patterns, the oceans are becoming more acidic, and previously undisturbed habitats are being altered and degraded by human activities. If …
How dung beetles are duped into rolling and burying seeds: Jeremy Midgley Dung beetles find their food – which is dung – by it’s pungent smell. Once found, dung beetles then roll and bury dung balls or dung pellets to later eat or to lay eggs in. But in the De Hoop Nature Reserve of …