WhyNot?

Dung Beetles

Category: Pets
Responses: 7 (4 in support, 0 neutral, 3 in opposition)
Number of views: 1713
Tracking: Track this idea
Community Rating:Average AverageYour Rating:

Why not breed African Dung Beetles that can survive in climates like the US. You could send off for them at your favorite online pet store, toss them in the yard, and no more pickup.

Puddinhead, Jun 19 2004

What do you think of this idea or comment?
(You can change your vote at any time)

agree I agree no opinion No opinion disagree I disagree

Users who liked this idea also liked:

Better Brake Light (345 votes) Very strong
Elevator DeSelect (127 votes) Very strong
like IMDB but for government (86 votes) Very strong
Aerial pictures in flight (173 votes) Very strong
GPS and Digital Photos (139 votes) Very strong
Airport charity (128 votes) Very strong
Attachment Notation (121 votes) Very strong
This concept is great! (111 votes) Very strong
Cable TV (89 votes) Very strong
Reverse Ebay: Want to buy XYZ (61 votes) Very strong

Other ideas in category (Pets):

Comments from other members:

Add your comment

I not quite sure what you mean. What do they do?

spacedeers, Jun 26 2004

I think the point is to go after pet droppings.

classicsat, Jun 30 2004

There are dung beetles that live in the US, I study insects and beetles and have found dung beetles in and around dog poop in the past. The beetles roll some of the poop, not all of it, into a perfectly round ball. They then bury it and lay eggs in it. These beetles also like dead animals, or carrion, they can bury a whole squirrel/cat/opposom and then lay their eggs in the carcass underground. Interestingly, the adult beetles "feed" little pieces of rotton animal/poop to their young which look like a type of maggot. Probably more than what you wanted to know. But, if the dung beetles did not already exist, the poop and dead animals would be alot more abundant.

tracymyhalyk, Oct 16 2004

Dung beetles that clean up after other animals like elephants do so in an environment where animals roam freely & at large. They're not kept in one enclosure where feces accumulate like a pet dog in the back yard. To look after the amount of waste we'd have a lot more dung beetles than most would prefer. And the feces wouldn't be removed right away. We'd have to wait till enough beetles took care of it. I think most people would find it better cleaning up rather than waiting for the beetles to get it done.

Cutting & fertilizing a lawn would disturb the beetles & it's been noted that where human habitation is greatest, dung beetle populations fall off drastically. I don't think many would wish to leave their backyards go to waste just so they wouldn't have to clean up after a dog.

But on a larger scale, I'd read that Sydney Australia imported 25,000 French, North African & Spanish dung beetles to clean up the streets 'cause dog owners didn't. No word on how well this went. If anyone else knows, I'd like to hear of this.

Hebe, May 28 2006

Actually, I found this site while searching for someone that sells them! I thought I had seen them through a garden supply place but haven't found it again. If anyone knows of an outlet, please let me know. :)

Bym, May 24 2008