By rapidly burying dung pads, dung beetles reduce fly breeding sites and therefore fly numbers. Dung burial also reduces the infective stages of gastrointestinal parasites of livestock. Dung beetles can also clean up pastures and replace nutrients in the soil. The beetles’ tunnels result in greater water retention and less run-off and they improve root penetration and soil aeration.

This Primefact has been written to help farmers to increase dung beetle activity on their farms. Topics covered include the following:

• Background
• North Coast dung beetle trials
• Increase your dung beetle species
• Monitor beetle activity
• Suggested monitoring program
• Indentify your dung beetle species
• Introducing dung beetles
• Don't kill your beetles