How much thought have you ever given to a dung beetle? Chances are that apart from an occasional nature programme showing the humble creature performing the Herculean task of rolling a mound of dung substantially bigger than itself, there hasn’t been much reason to. And yet to our MD, Corius Visser, dung beetles are massively important.
He gets super-excited when he sees them, because they are very clear bio-indicators of soil health. And he has been seeing a lot more of them lately, thanks to the impact of the farm’s agro-ecological, regenerative farming programme focused on building life and balance in the soil. Healthy soil is the starting point for all our agricultural endeavours, from the vineyards, cover crops and vegetables to the feeding environment for our Dexter cattle, sheep, Indian Runner ducks, chickens and more.
“Dung beetles are extremely sensitive to habitat changes. In many parts of the world, populations are under threat because of the impact of climate change and the widespread use of artificial, chemical inputs. But when you have a diverse and active dung beetle population, as we do, here at Vergenoegd Löw, it tells us that our soils are in good condition.”
Dung beetles are often indicators of the successful restoration of habitat. Where vegetation has been restored to support animal life, dung beetles will come. And restoration that attracts dung beetles is good for the wider ecosystem.
Corius calls these beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) heroes or eco-engineers. “Dung beetles are crucial to soil health, recycling nutrients and improving soil structure. They dig tunnels to bury their dung that is rich in nutrients. Their activity improves soil structure and water-holding capacity and promotes aeration to create a good flow of oxygen to plant roots and microorganisms. Their digging combats soil compaction. That’s a godsend for root systems that can penetrate deeper into the soil to find the moisture and nutrients they need.
“But that’s not all. Through their digestive process, they accelerate the breakdown of organic matter, releasing essential nutrients, from nitrogen and phosphorus to potassium, for plant absorption. At the same time, by removing dung from the surface of the soil where it could attract pests, they are in effect, working as natural pest controllers. That’s particularly important with the expansion of our livestock populations on the farm.”
We have the largest herd of Dexter cattle on any wine farm in the Western Cape for example. They, the sheep, geese, Indian Runner ducks and other poultry, all help to fertilize the soil. The dung beetles make sure their manure is broken down to add to the biomass of the soil.
In other words, the eco-grazing livestock, as the providers of dung, directly influence dung beetle abundance and indirectly benefit dung beetles by improving habitats and food sources for herbivores. And the diversity in types of dung from regeneratively-raised livestock, can support diverse dung beetle communities, contributing to the overall health of the ecosystem.
And to think that while we casually stroll across the farm all this is going on beneath our feet.
It is an extraordinary thing to consider that literally every handful of soil teems with activity. Not just from dung beetles. There more living organisms in that handful than there are people on earth. All those bacteria, fungi, and countless other microorganisms are eating, excreting, exchanging, and even communicating with each other. Together, they shape the health, life, fertility, density and porosity of the soil that ultimately sustains us, together with so much faunal life and vegetation.
As just one example: bacteria are the most abundant and diverse organisms in soil. They thrive in the root zone, feeding on root secretions (exudates) consisting of sugars, amino acids, and organic acids. They help to stabilise soil physically and stimulate plant growth.
And that doesn’t even begin to cover fungi or nematodes or the many, many other populations of microorganisms below the ground.
Why then do so many people dismiss this foundational life-force as dirt? Next time you hear someone referring to soil as dirt, ask them to think about what they’ve just said. That dirt is keeping us alive. That dirt is helping us to grow healthy, balanced vines, cover crops, herbs and vegetables that supply our kitchens. That dirt is literally the ground supporting our livestock, ensuring they are raised as healthy animals, as vital cogs in our regenerative programme and as the source of some of our essential animal protein that finds its way onto the plates of our diners.
How to find dung-beetle tunnels – a practical step-by-step guide:
- Find fresh dung: Look for dung pats that are still moist or only a day or two old (that’s when tunnellers are most active).
- Check around the edges: Look for small round holes (about 1 to 3 cm wide) or loose, freshly turned soil next to the dung. These are tunnel entrances.
- Watch quietly: Wait a few minutes. You might see beetles entering or leaving the holes with bits of dung.
- Probe gently (optional): Use a thin stick to feel for a hollow under the surface, but don’t dig too deep or damage the tunnel.
- Take pics, and notes. Then move on without disturbing the site.