Dung beetle. Scanning electron micrograph (SEM) of the head of a dung beetle (family Scarabaeidae). Dung beetles are found on every continent except Antarctica. They roll a ball of dung (faeces) to lay an egg in it. The ball is then buried underground away from predators. As the larva develops it eats the dung, emerging from the soil as an adult. Adult dung beetles only feed on the dung fluid, which they extract by squeezing the dung in their mouthparts. They only feed on the dung of herbivore vertebrates. Dung beetles play an important role in fecal decomposition. Magnification: x 4 when printed at 10 centimetres wide.