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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
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.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 Nov. 2024
Essentially, wherever there is mammal poop, there's going to be dung beetles.
—Ari Daniel, NPR, 22 Nov. 2024
Animals from seals to dung beetles rely on the stars or moon in dark skies for navigation.
—Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 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 18 Dec. 2024.
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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