In this history of more than 3,000 years, beginning with Ancient Egypt, Marcus Byrne and Helen Lunn capture the diversity of dung beetles and their unique behaviour patterns. Outlining the development of science from the point of view of the humble dung beetle makes this charming story of immense interest to general readers and entomologists alike.

The humble and industrious dung beetle is a marvelous beast: the 6,000 species identified so far are intricately entwined with human history and scientific endeavor. these night-soil collectors of the planet have been worshiped as gods, worn as jewelery, and painted by artists. More practically, they saved Hawaii from ecological blight, and rescued Australia from plagues of flies. They fertilize soil, cleanse pastures, steer by the stars, and have a unique relationship with the African elephant (along with many other ungulates). Above all, they are the ideal subject for biological study in an evolving world. This entertaining outline of the development of science from the beetle's perspective will enchant general readers and entomologists alike.