Dung Beetles in South Western Australia

05/05/2026

Took the phone with me on tonight's paddock walk (Manjimup). Spotted evidence of Bubas bison activity in several pads but no dusk buzz of swarming beetles - yet!
Who else has found bison activity now the season has well and truly broken?

28/04/2026

Great work Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee WICC and Denmark Agricultural College.
Check out the Southern Forests Community Landcare page for details of the Fecpak workshop in Manjimup on 15th May.

23/04/2026

A philosophical and artistic appreciation of dung beetles and biochar. Biochar Network of Western Australia Inc

CO2RE Artists: Billie Ireland Sacred Carbon: Where the past, present and future merge This project will explore the creative and ecological potential of biochar and carbon sequestration through material research and a residency at a regenerative farming project. Billie Ireland will be making tempora...

23/04/2026

Lee Fontanini became hooked on dung beetles when setting traps in 2020-2022. So, on her Covid-delayed trip, was delighted to find this 4cm dung beetle in Uzbekistan - in the desert north of Nurota near Lake Aydar-ko'l. Sheep, goats and camels would be its food and nesting material supply.

12/04/2026

Bioscience has completed the analysis of Dung Beetle Soil Health Initiative monitoring sites' soil samples.
Limited soil attributes of the eight sites from Narrikup to Bindoon will be correlated with the dung beetle species (and their abundance) in an attempt to explain species' habitat preferences.
Definitive answers from soil results alone are unlikely - many variables are involved - however rough guides will support livestock producers' dung beetle investment decisions. We anticipate results will provide leads for further specific research.
Southern Forests Community Landcare Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee WICC Lower Blackwood Landcare GeoCatch Leschenault Catchment Council Landcare SJ Chittering Landcare Centre Oyster Harbour Catchment Group Inc.
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CpDPa8ASC/

🌱 Did you know soil pH decides how well your plants grow?
From acidic peat to alkaline desert soils, each type has a unique role in agriculture and ecology 🌍

Understanding soil = Better crops + healthier plants 🌾

Follow for more valuable content 🔥
Suggest topics from science to cover 👇

26/03/2026

Number crunching has begun! Almost 300,000 beetles were trapped (and most released). Wide variation exists in the raw capture data from the September to February dung beetle monitoring by the following groups: Oyster Harbour Catchment Group Inc. Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee WICC Lower Blackwood Landcare GeoCatch Southern Forests Community Landcare Leschenault Catchment Council Landcare SJ Inc and Chittering Landcare Centre (Ellen Brockman Integrated Catchment Groups).
In the following comments, a graph for each of the six introduced tunnelling species, an introduced dweller species (Aphodius fimetarius) and a native (Onthophagus ferox) will show where the species exist and the percentage of the total of that species caught at each site.
However, there appear to be significant differences between the five sites within a group, and why that is occurring will be further analysed.

14/02/2026

To follow on from the post about early beetle releases. This video is from Central Queensland - would be interesting to know whether this farmer has a major problem with buffalo fly.
John Feehan has been working with farmers in Northern Queensland, building up their dung beetle population, to great effect in buffalo fly management.

13/02/2026

"The decision by the Australian Meat Research Committee to fund a research programme on the 'Biological Control of Dung' was based largely upon the potential benefit of achieving reductions in the abundance of the dung-breeding buffalo fly...and the bush fly.
"As a consequence, AMRC has supported the program since 1964, expending $3.4m up to June 1981..." (BCoD program ended 1984)
[From an AMRC 1982 Workshop report]
Of the 8 species introduced between 1968 and 1973, only one was suited to south west WA - Onthophagus binodis (1972). The initial focus was on the northern livestock industry where the buffalo fly causes enormous damage - to animal welfare and producer profits.
Last December the Queensland DPI received 177 responses to a survey, looking at ways producers manage this on-going problem.
A couple of key points - dung beetles are valued for their contribution and there is concern about the efficacy of chemical control.
[Source: FutureBeef Newsletter]

11/02/2026

A turning point. Til now the summer active beetles have enthusiastically, in their hordes, been slurping the juices from the dung. Maturational feeding time is coming to an end and the serious business of breeding the next generation (which may emerge in late autumn) has begun. The tell-tale signs are the little piles of soil brought to the surface through their tunnelling activity.

11/02/2026

Wilson Inlet Catchment Committee WICC and Southern Forests Community Landcare are offering free AI analysed WEC, using the FECPAK. The units will be moving to other areas soon, so make contact with [email protected] if you are in the SFCL area, to book a sampling session. Or Kylie Cook at WICC - [email protected]

Wondering what actually happens to worms during dry periods and how they are best controlled during these times? Worm larvae can survive on pasture for several months in cool weather and three months or less in hot weather.
Worm egg counts (WEC) are the best way to monitor worms.
* In lower-rainfall regions, it is usually sufficient to monitor WEC about six weeks after there has been enough rain to generate a green pick.
* Monitor WEC every one to two months in the first six months of a dry period in medium- to high-rainfall zones.
Sheep in poorer condition are more susceptible to worms, so it is important to remain vigilant, despite the dry times.
Check out this article for more information: https://buff.ly/iYzpvGg.

Australian Wool Innovation
ParaBoss
AWI Extension NSW
AWI Extension SA
AWI Extension VIC
AWI Extension TAS
AWI Extension QLD