ACT Natural Resource Management’s (NRM) Sustainable Agriculture team has continued its long‑running effort to improve soil health across the region with the release of thousands of dung beetles on rural properties throughout the ACT. These “miniature ecosystem engineers” play an important role in supporting healthy pastures and more resilient farming landscapes.
This week, a new colony of around 1,100 Bubas bison dung beetles was released near Tharwa. Despite the gloomy weather, the beetles quickly became active, responding enthusiastically to the scent of fresh cow pats and getting straight to work.
Bubas bison is one of three winter‑active beetle species—alongside Onitis caffer and Geotrupes spiniger—introduced by ACT NRM this year. These species are active during cooler months, complementing the activity of previously established dung beetle species that prefer warmer conditions. Establishing strong, self‑sustaining populations of winter‑active beetles will help ensure dung breakdown and the associated ecosystem services continue more evenly throughout the year.
Dung beetles provide a suite of benefits to agricultural landscapes, including nutrient recycling, improved soil structure and aeration, and reduced dung accumulation. The ongoing release program is an important component of ACT NRM’s work to support productive, sustainable and climate‑resilient farming systems across the Territory.
