Posted on 02/01/2013 12:11:06 PM PST by JoeProBono
Most insects have no trouble moving around when the moon is bright, but darker nights can make nighttime navigation a bit more difficult. African dung beetles, however, have apparently found a workaround — the Milky Way. A recent study from researchers in Sweden and South Africa found that on moonless nights, dung beetles use the stars to help orient themselves, a rather surprising tactic for a creature that spends so much time with its nose to the ground. In fact, scientists say these findings are the first evidence of any insect having celestial navigation capabilities.
Researchers made this discovery after examining the different ways in which the beetles push their balls of dung. Under normal conditions, the insects store their dung balls in a secure location by moving it along a straight path. As the study notes, the beetles were able to replicate this behavior under moonlit nights and on dark nights when only the Milky Way was visible, but struggled to navigate under more overcast conditions. In planetarium tests, they performed equally well under a fully starlit sky and one showing only the Milky Way. When researchers strapped visors to their heads to block out the sky entirely, they were completely disoriented.
"A first for the insect kingdom"
Thus far, only birds, humans, and seals have been known to use celestial navigation techniques, but these findings raise the possibility that other nocturnal insects may rely on the stars, as well. Yet lead researcher Marie Dacke of Lund University in Sweden cautions against extrapolating her results too far, noting that dung beetles are unique in their reliance upon straight paths to collect dung.
"Dung beetles are known to use celestial compass cues such as the sun, the moon, and the pattern of polarized light formed around these light sources to roll their balls of dung along straight paths," Dacke said. "Celestial compass cues dominate straight-line orientation in dung beetles so strongly that, to our knowledge, this is the only animal with a visual compass system that ignores the extra orientation precision that landmarks can offer."
I have an indoor toilet so I use a kindle when I push poo.
And here I always thought they used their feet.
And here I always thought they used their feet.
“When researchers strapped visors to their heads to block out the sky entirely, they were completely disoriented.”
Ya think strapping a visor on an insect is NOT going to disorient it?
To dung and beyond...
Who knew they were a laxative?
Probably not only disoriented it, but also disconnected its head from the body...
Just carry a dung bettle in your underpants!
Are those ‘medical gloves’ the beetle is wearing ?
Huh. The Democrats use MSNBC.
“What project is your son the scientist working on these days?”
“Beetles pushing around balls of crap at night.”
“Ahhhhh.....a political scientist.”
Rumor has it that a certain Kenyan dung beetle was able to navigate his way from Africa to North America.........Just a rumor however :)
I really thought I had it made. You see, I’ve developed the world’s smallest set of night vision goggles. They fit perfect on the beetles. The beetles were ecstatic, but they said they could only pay me in dung. I told them if I wanted to work for crap for pay, I’d have taken that insurance job.
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