Meet the ‘mini beasts’ of regenerative farming

In fact, they’re such critical ecosystem engineers that a collaborative project has seen more than 100,000 dung beetles released on farms across the region since 2023, including batches of 4,000 beetles on two properties in the Byron Shire.

The project involved Southern Cross University, Landcare networks, North Coast Local Land Services, EcoInsects and the Lismore Node of the Southern Queensland and Northern NSW Innovation Hub.  

The aim is to establish a diverse dung beetle population which is active for more months in the year, including throughout winter. 

Now researchers from Southern Cross University are building on this work, with a mission to find out how different farming practices – such as grazing intensity, veterinary medicine use, pasture management and supplementary nutrition – impact dung beetles and soil health. 

PhD candidate Ed White is currently conducting field work at nine local livestock properties, monitoring and trapping dung beetles, and taking samples of soil and dung from each farm. 

“The Northern Rivers is a diverse area, so we need to do a comprehensive analysis of multiple management practices, across different seasons,” he said. 

“Our goal is to discover what species of dung beetles are actually on the farms and, combined with microbiota analysis of the soil and dung samples, we’ll gain insights into interactions between dung beetles, soil microbes and farm management practices. This will help producers learn how they can help dung beetles thrive on their property.” 

Professor Nigel Andrew, a leading expert on dung beetles, is supervising Ed’s research. 

“Dung beetles are mini beasts that landholders are excited to have on their property. They are extremely beneficial for farms – they can break down a cow pat within hours,” he said. 

“As part of Ed’s work, we’re also looking at how native species interact with introduced species. We don’t know what happens if the introduced beetles become too good, and out-compete everything else. When do they become an invasive species?” 

Ed will use non-lethal trapping methods on farms and emerging environmental DNA (eDNA) analysis. This is done by collecting environmental samples, extracting DNA and amplifying it in the lab, and then analysing the DNA sequences to identify species. 

“The eDNA method is great because it helps us understand the interactions between beetles, the soil and microorganisms, with minimal impact on farm operations and the beetles themselves,” Ed said. 

“Ultimately, the goal is to guide better farm management practices and help farmers make dung beetle-friendly decisions. 

“Farmers have been telling me there aren’t as many dung beetles as there used to be. Hopefully we can start to change that.” 

Professor Andrew said the Entomology Lab at Southern Cross University is doing further work around integrated pest management and beneficial insects. 

"A key aspect of our research is to understand how chemical residues affect beneficial insects, particularly when they are stressed by extreme weather events,” he said. “I am very proud of the ongoing research in our lab, and I believe it will significantly improve our landscapes.”