Speculative Fact #334: Dung Beetles, the Cartographers of the Stars

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Dung Beetles. These insects are the butt of many jokes and yet, the subject of intense study. Their nomadic lifestyle requires them to travel great distances with their...luggage. They often do it alone, usually without the aid of smart phones or Google. They never stop to ask directions. So, it was even more impressive when researchers realized some time ago that they tend to travel in a straight line. In case you're wondering, that's very odd. They don't get lost, even over long distances. Finally we have some idea as to how they do it.

It's all in their dance. The dung beetle gets atop its ball of feces and does a kind of jig, spinning and turning on the mound. As it does so, it takes pictures of the night sky and the stars. Once done, it climbs down and continues it's journey, using these star maps as their guide.  

Researchers confirmed this by creating their own "night sky" in a controlled environment with star formations that don't exist in the real world. The beetles still used them to navigate the experimental terrain. They lost their bearings when the sky was covered, like what might happen on a cloudy night. 

This is an amazing evolved trait that demonstrates the interconnectedness of all things, big and small. How might you use this insight in your own story? 

​-Rob Cameron