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dung beetle
noun
: a beetle (such as a tumblebug) that rolls balls of dung in which to lay eggs and on which the larvae feed
Examples of dung beetle in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The amulet took the shape of a dung beetle, which was sacred in Ancient Egypt as a symbol of new life, per the press release.
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Ashlyn Messier, Fox News, 5 Dec. 2024
There’s a section on fluorescent animals, a callout on the many ways that animals use sticks and a piece on how dung beetles use light from the sky to navigate a straight course.
—
Laura Kiniry, Smithsonian Magazine, 6 Dec. 2024
After 15 minutes of searching, despite the warm day, there are no dung beetles.
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Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 Nov. 2024
Essentially, wherever there is mammal poop, there's going to be dung beetles.
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Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 Nov. 2024
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Word History
First Known Use
circa 1634, in the meaning defined above
Dictionary Entries Near dung beetle
Cite this Entry
“Dung beetle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dung%20beetle. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.
Kids Definition
dung beetle
noun
: a beetle (as a tumblebug) that rolls balls of dung in which to lay eggs and on which the larvae feed
More from Merriam-Webster on dung beetle
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about dung beetle
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