Pest Species Suppression
Through the process of nesting and feeding as both adults and larvae dung beetles play a major role in controlling parasite and pest species suppression, having a major effect of livestock and human health and well being (Nichols et al. 2008). The main species controlled by their actions are flies.
Mammal dung is an important resource for many species of dung-breeding fly and dung beetles. As a result introduced livestock and a result flies have increased primarily Musca vetustissima the Bush fly. Fly infestations reduce livestock productivity and health and help spread the eye infection trachoma which serves to leave a large financial burden on livestock producers (Nichols et al. 2008). A major decline in bush fly numbers was seen after the introduction of dung beetles. Primarily due to out competing flies for dung by burying it the flies simply had nowhere to lay their eggs (Cousins 2014). |