It's also an idea to point out that Dungbeetles utilize human waste too, which my wife and I have on several occations observed.
What happend the first time was that while squating down "minding my own business" (to be polite) in Mauritania, I was dive bombed by a Dungbeetle. It kind of reminded me of the movie where King Kong is on top of the Empire State building, swatting away those pesky airplanes. Some Dungbeetles are quite large, and the sound isn't much differant from the old bi-planes in the original movie! It would zoom off for a few seconds, only to return from a new angle, with me trying to wave it away. Vhrooommm from the right, Vhrooommm from the left, and then making a few passes from the rear trying to trick me...
As I had partially completed my squating mission, the dungbeetle shortly landed between my feet and litterally pinched off a piece of poop! To be honost, I was amazed that it went into action so fast. It then started rolling the piece of poop, which soon turned ball shaped, off through the bush. It was so strange that I was actually a little stunned. I finished my own business, and after calling my wife over, then followed its tracks about 10 meters to where it was in the process of burying its loot! Needless to say, we had a good laugh!
What amazed us most was how fast a Dungbeetle would be on the scene, which to me means that they must have some special "Shit radar" or smell detector! They're very fascinating insects.
Erik D.