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
Animals from seals to dung beetles rely on the stars or moon in dark skies for navigation.
—
Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024
There is also a species of tree frog, a dung beetle and a genus of dinosaurs named after the character.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 13 June 2024
Sheldon and her team have found that smaller dung beetles struggle to dig deep enough to protect their offspring from the warming climate and extreme temperature swings.
—Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2024
Habitat loss, the use of pesticides and climate change are threatening insects of all shapes and sizes, including the not-so-glamorous dung beetle.
—Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dung beetle 
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of
Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback
about these examples.
Brian Handwerk, Smithsonian Magazine, 25 Oct. 2024
There is also a species of tree frog, a dung beetle and a genus of dinosaurs named after the character.
—Taylor Nicioli, CNN, 13 June 2024
Sheldon and her team have found that smaller dung beetles struggle to dig deep enough to protect their offspring from the warming climate and extreme temperature swings.
—Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2024
Habitat loss, the use of pesticides and climate change are threatening insects of all shapes and sizes, including the not-so-glamorous dung beetle.
—Adam Yamaguchi, CBS News, 24 Feb. 2024
See all Example Sentences for dung beetle
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 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share