My granddaughter and I were out walking in the woods when she spotted what looked like a clod of dirt that appeared to be propelling itself slowly along the trail. When we looked more closely we were lucky enough to see a small beetle hard at work, laboring with all its might like a miniature Sisyphus, to move its prize, a bit of coyote scat, over a clump of grass towards some unknown destination.
Nearly anywhere in the world, if you turn over a cow patty, and perhaps dig an inch or so below the soil, you may find these fascinating creatures at work. They are dung beetles, and they are an important part ecosystems all over the world.
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