Yesterday I posted the link, but not the post. Have time? Click on any post on my blog: asktheanimals.blogspot This one is on the mysterious Scarab Beetle. I think the Egyptians knew something we do not! Scientific research has proven what the ancient Egyptians already knew. The Scarab beetle, one of a species of dung beetles, is amazing. It is the only insect known to navigate using the Milky Way! The Egyptians noted that the Scarab always goes in a true straight line when he’s rolling a ball of dung home for storage. To the Egyptians, the Scarab represented the god of the sun because of the way he would roll a ball of dung down into the earth. It reminded them of how the sun was “rolled” across the sky and went “down” into the earth at sunset. When the sun rose the next morning, it seemed to have experienced a rebirth. For this reason, the Scarab beetle is used extensively in funeral ornamentation. Scarab symbols are found in multiple tombs in Egypt and large sculptures of scarabs are at the Luxor Temple. The ancients thought there were no females, but that the male miraculously created his offspring in the ball of dung he shaped and then rolled along to be hidden in his home as a food source. The fact is, both the male and female beetles push a dung ball underground and mate there. The eggs are deposited in a ball to provide food for the worms (larvae) which will hatch out. The dung is surprisingly nutritious for the beetle. It needs no other food, or any drink, to thrive. So though the ancients were incorrect about how the Scarab reproduces, they were right about how the Scarab is able to travel in an absolutely straight line. It may or may not use individual stars, but it can find its way using the Milky Way. The beetle, recent studies show, uses not only the stars, but the sun to orient himself. Also, starting in the evening hours, it can use polarized light that runs north to south. Humans cannot see this type of light. The reason the beetle wants to take the shortest and straightest path to his home is to avoid other beetles who often try to steal his prize. There is still more to learn about the dung beetle. Scientists know it uses some method of measurement on its treks to and from its home, but they aren’t certain what. Some researchers think the Scarab has an awareness of the number of steps taken, similar to desert ants. How intricate is this small form of life that scientists still don’t completely understand it? I think the main mystery is how would a small bug know about stars or use celestial clues in navigation? It would make sense, of course, if the same Creator who made the stars, made the beetle! The earthy Scarab inspires me to turn my eyes heavenward for answers.
Posted on: Sun, 22 Sep 2013 03:55:07 +0000
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