Dung beetles

Meet your new farm worker

24 hours a day, 7 days a week, improving your farm and our environment. And paid in dung.

The benefits of non-native dung beetles

Frequently Asked Questions

Dung beetle availability over Spring/Summer 2021

In partnership with Dung Beetle Innovations, we will be offering dung beetles during the spring/summer 2021 season for farms in the Wellington Region.

Map highlighting the partnership catchments for this season

Dung beetles will be targeted for release within partnership catchments, with remaining beetle packages eligible to farms in the wider Wellington Region. Partnership catchments are as follows: Wairarapa Moana, Parkvale, Mangaterere, Otukura, Kopuaranga and Whangaehu.

Farms within partnership catchments will have until 31 January to secure beetles packages, after which they will also be offered to farms in the wider region.

Use the  “Order now” link below to place an order through the DBI Order page and select Greater Wellington Regional Council Partnership Programme.

Testimonials

“I would seriously recommend other farmers invest in dung beetles. It’s a short term cost with a long term benefit.” – Kurt Portas, award-winning farmer at Palliser Ridge Farm

"Dung beetles are able to aerate soil, improve the nutrient cycle and help manage water absorption and dispersion… the potential benefits are amazing!” – Scotty Macdonald, Wairarapa farmer

Hear more from Kurt about how dung beetles are working on his farm in this interview.

• More available grazing pasture
• Decreased maintenance time
• Improved soil health
• Improved water quality
• Parasite and pest reduction
• Government and EPA approved

Factsheet

Read more about the Copris Incertus – our cover beetle – in this factsheet.