Nature in Action: Dung Beetle

Our dogs keep them busy. And fed? Housed? What do they actually do with the dung?

Black Beetle

Black Beetle

This beetle is quite like the ironclad beetle in body shape and legs, but its texture is quite different. I found it on the bed the other day.

Lovely Beetle

Gorey Beetle 2010: #3

I found this little ironclad beetle in the gravel path between house and car; thought for once that I'd found one that really was really dead, as opposed to just playing dead. Brought it in, thinking to keep its little bod if really dead, but it was not; returned it to the outdoors, into the woodpile. They like it there.

Never seen one with such a mod, almost-paisley pattern!

Beetle, Thursday Night

Just hanging out on the back porch mat, not doing anyone any harm...

Dung Beetle

This dung beetle was in a big hurry to get away from me. I didn't notice in person the little spots on its back. Mud?

Rose Beetle

Found on the sombreuil rose bush, right inside a rose. I do not think this beetle is good for roses.

A Treasure Trove of Ironclad Beetles in the Woodpile!

Or Gorey beetles, as I like to call them. I found five of them today! As many in one day as I have seen in five years! I was cleaning up the woodpile and kept coming across them hiding among the logs. It was sort of like finding Easter eggs, only much better. 

I thought the first two were mere carcasses and moved them over to the hood of the car to save them; but after finding the third one I began to wonder if maybe they just play possum. So I moved them all back to the woodpile after I was done. 

Small Things Found on Saturday

A tiny feather from a Scott's Oriole


The fruit of a wildflower whose name I do not know, but it's either yellow or purple. The berry with stem is about the same length as the feather.




A beetle's carapace, inside. It is slightly smaller in length than the feather.


A beetle's carapace, inside detail. I find this patterning unbelievably gorgeous.

The Dead Beetle

(Not Beatle)

Nobody knows if the ants came after it died, or if it died because of the ants. Well, it and/or the ants know—but no one else does.


A midsection