Why do dung beetles roll dung balls?

Answer: Food and nursery for larvae

Exercise strengthens muscles — Wrong. Dung beetles don't roll for fitness—it's survival work! They're transporting food and creating nurseries for their offspring.

Building underground nests — Wrong. They do bury dung balls underground, but not for nest structure—the dung itself is the food for adults and developing larvae.

Food and nursery for larvae ✓ — Correct! Dung beetles roll animal dung into balls for two purposes: food for themselves and nurseries for eggs. Females lay eggs inside buried dung balls—larvae hatch and feed on the dung. Amazingly, they navigate using the Milky Way to roll in straight lines!