Why should we care about dung beetles?
Dung beetles provide valuable ecological and economic services. The net value of dung beetles is estimated at ~$2 billion per year for the agriculture and cattle industries worldwide. As nutrient recyclers, dung beetles aid in dung decomposition while integrating the natural fertilizer in the soil.
In my initial encounter with the 2019 acquisitions of the Artbank South Africa, I found myself scanning the works, searching for a singular voice – a central concern within the collection. Instead, what answered my call for clarity was a cacophony. Some subtle whispers, others murmurings, desperate pleas and even in some instances – joyful exclamation.
True flies, scientifically known as Diptera (Greek for two-winged), are a group of insects that are typically associated, in the public mind, with filth and disease. This is because most people only interact with them in their kitchens or in agricultural or medical settings as pests or as carriers of disease. And while these generalisations have some truth to them, the vast majority of flies are not detrimental to human health or food production, but rather form an integral part of numerous ecosystems worldwide (Triplehorn & Johnson 2005).
While most people do their utmost to avoid flies, we as entomologists, and particularly specialists called dipterists, actively seek them out as part of our jobs. As fly taxonomists, it is our passion to collect, classify, and if we find new species, describe them.
An official photograph of the group known as the ‘Twelve Disciples of Nelson Mandela’. Peter Swartz is standing in the back row, third from the left (Photo source: National Museum).
He was one of Nelson Mandela’s so-called ‘12 disciples’; he was born and bred in Heidedal; and an informal township (‘Peter Swart’) in Mangaung was named after him. Say the name ‘Peter Swartz’ today and some people might have heard of him but, sadly, few really know who this mostly ‘unknown’ figure and ‘lost disciple’ of South Africa’s liberation history really is. The reason for this unfortunate situation is that much of Peter’s life history is obscure; it remains hidden in the grey areas of South Africa’s struggle history. Fortunately, Peter’s sacrifices are neither hidden nor lost. His important contribution to South Africa’s liberation history has cemented his name as one of the country’s great struggle veterans who fought for basic human rights for all South Africans.