Most insects get a bad rap, Rachel Stone notes wistfully.
Especially ones that eat poop.
In actuality, those feces-feasting critters dung beetles play a vital role in agriculture, plant and forest growth and the overall health of the earth.
So it was a no-brainer that Stone, first-year Allen Community College biology instructor, would jump at the chance to partake in a biodiversity project on an organic farm in upstate New York over the summer.
It was there she surveyed and learned all she could about the unsung creepy
crawly heroes.
The dung beetles are my thing, she laughed. If they just ate poop, thatd be OK. Thats an OK enough contribution to the ecosystem.
But dung beetle behavior includes so much more than simply chowing down on cow chips.
The beetles take the waste, roll it into little balls, and bury it underground.
Those poo pods then provide multiple benefits by fertilizing and aerating the soil, providing an incubator for dung beetle eggs, thus ensuring another generation will thrive.
It initiates this wonderful cycle, Stone said. Its introducing lots of nitrogen and goodies into the soil, and getting rid of the nasty stuff on the surface.
Alas, Stone has yet to find a receptive audience in her biology classes about her unusual summer project.
Theyre not wanting to hear about dung beetles yet, she laughed. But Im trying.
The dung beetle project illustrates the overall misconceptions humans have about insects overall, Stone said.
And it also gives a brief glimpse of why the former artist decided to pursue a career in education in particular biology, as well as anatomy and physiology.
Biology is everything, Stone said. Its fascinating to look at the human model. Its like reading the owners manual for your car. If you know anything about anatomy and physiology, it empowers you to talk to your doctor, to understand and communicate better about your health.
But beyond that, Ive always been way more interested in ecological systems. Its looking at these interactions, but not only with humans. Humans are just one component in a much bigger picture. Its how we interact with bugs and plants.
