Rolling Dung Beetle \ Scarabaeus cristatus

The Rolling Dung Beetle (Scarabaeus cristatus) is a large scarab beetle of the family Scarabaeidae. The form found in the United Arab Emirates is the subspecies S. cristatus cristatus, and adults measure 22–33 mm long. It is a widespread Saharo-Sindian species, ranging from northern and north-eastern Africa through the Near East and the Arabian Peninsula to Iraq, Kuwait, Iran, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In the UAE it has been recorded at Al Ain, Jebel Hafit and Abu Dhabi, and specimens have been collected near ad-Dhaid, near Margham in Dubai, near Mahafiz, at Sharjah Desert Park and near Sweihan, many of them at lights. It is a desert beetle partly tied to sand, living in places where dung is scarce. Like the famous sacred scarab, it is a dung roller: adults fly in search of food and shape balls of dung, and both adults and larvae feed on animal droppings. In laboratory tests it preferred moist horse dung over camel dung, even though horse dung is harder to roll. Research in Dubai found the beetles active from April to October, with most new adults appearing in June and a second wave in September. The same work showed that this beetle is the main carrier there of the larvae of a stomach worm that infects dromedary camels. Watching one push its dung ball across the sand makes it a rewarding subject for desert photographers.