These beetles roll a ball of dung for some distance from where it was deposited, and bury it, excavating an underground chamber to house it.

An egg is then laid in the ball, the growing larva feeding on the dung, pupating, and eventually emerging as an adult.

In a study by Marie Dacke published in the journal Current Biology, it is reported that researchers have found that beetles of this species use the bright glow from the Milky Way to navigate during night-time operations.

The beetles navigated best when exposed to a clear starry sky, but managed equally well when only the diffuse band of the Milky Way Galaxy was visible.

It is undoubted that many other animals make use of similar techniques, some frogs, bats, moths and spiders being likely candidates.