A Remarkable Beetle

A Introducing dung beetles into a pasture is a simple process:

approximately 1,500 beetles are released, a handful at a time, into fresh
cow pats in the cow pasture. The beetles immediately disappear
beneath the pats digging and tunnelling and, if they successfully adapt
to their new environment, soon become a permanent, self-sustaining
part of the local ecology. In time they multiply and within three or four
years the benefits to the pasture are obvious.

B Dung beetles work from the inside of the pat so they are sheltered from
predators such as birds and foxes. Most species burrow into the soil
and bury dung in tunnels directly underneath the pats, which are
hollowed out from within. Some large species originating from France
excavate tunnels to a depth of approximately 30 cm below the dung pat.
These beetles make sausage-shaped brood chambers along the
tunnels. The shallowest tunnels belong to a much smaller Spanish
species that buries dung in chambers that hang like fruit from the
branches of a pear tree. South African beetles dig narrow tunnels of
approximately 20 cm below the surface of the pat. Some surface-
dwelling beetles, including a South African species, cut perfectly-
shaped balls from the pat, which are rolled away and attached to the
bases of plants.

C For maximum dung burial in spring, summer and autumn, farmers

require a variety of species with overlapping periods of activity. In the
cooler environments of the state of Victoria, the large French species
(2.5 centimeter long), is matched with smaller (half this size),
temperate-climate Spanish species. The former is slow to recover from
the winter cold and produce only one or two generations of offspring
from late spring until autumn. The latter, which multiply rapidly in early
spring, produce two to five generations annually. The South African
ball-rolling species, being a sub-tropical beetle, prefers the climate of
northern and coastal New South Wales where it commonly works with
the South African tunneling species. In warmer climates, many species
are active for longer periods of the year.

Glossary
1. dung: the droppings or excreta of animals
2. cow pats: droppings of cows
Emergency procedures
Revised July 2011

This applies to all persons on the school campus:

In cases of emergency (e.g., fire), find the nearest teacher who will send a messenger
at full speed to the Office or inform the Office via phone ext. 99.

Procedure for evacuation

1. Warning of an emergency evacuation will be marked by a number of short

bell rings. (In the event of a power failure, this may be a hand-held bell or
siren.)
2. All class work will cease immediately.
3. Students will leave their bags, books and other possessions where they
are.
4. Teachers will take the class rolls.
5. Classes will vacate the premises using the nearest staircase. If these stairs
are inaccessible, use the nearest alternative staircase. Do not use the lifts.
Do not run.
6. Each class, under the teacher’s supervision, will move in a brisk, orderly
fashion to the paved quadrangle area adjacent to the car park.
7. All support staff will do the same.
8. The Marshalling Supervisor, Ms. Randall, will be wearing a red cap and she
will be waiting there with the master timetable and staff list in her
possession.
9. Students assemble in the quad with their teacher at the time of evacuation.
The teacher will do a head count and check the roll.
10. Each teacher sends a student to the Supervisor to report whether all
students have been accounted for. After checking, students will sit down (in
the event of rain or wet pavement they may remain standing).
11. The Supervisor will inform the Office when all staff and students have been
accounted for.
12. All students, teaching staff and support personnel remain in the evacuation
area until the All-Clear signal is given.
13. The All Clear will be a long bell ring or three blasts on the siren.
14. Students will return to class in an orderly manner under teacher guidance.
15. In the event of an emergency occurring during lunch or breaks, students
are to assemble in their home-room groups in the quad and await their
home-room teacher.