Tuesday, 08 December 2015 10:34

Dung beetles up for auction

Written by Rural News Group

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The winner of the auction with a $1 reserve will receive a Farm Starter Pack normally worth $2000 plus GST.

A colony of much sought-after dung beetles are up for auction to raise awareness and kick off a science education project.

Dung Beetle Innovations (DBI) is auctioning the colony of dung beetles on Trade Me. The winner of the auction with a $1 reserve will receive a Farm Starter Pack normally worth $2000 plus GST.

They will receive their own colony of between 200 and 500 beetles which eat and bury cow dung. They are only attracted to the cow dung so move from one patch to another to consume it.

DBI has teamed up with Chris Clay, who won Microsoft's Global Innovative Educator in 2011, to use dung beetles to switch young minds onto the wonders of science. All the money raised in the auction will be used to engage kids and communities in the issues around agriculture and the environment.

DBI has assured its customers who have already ordered beetles that their orders will be filled first.

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