Goliath Dung Beetle

That trail in the ground right in front of us is from a goliath dung beetle. And by the looks of it, fresh. Keep an eye out, they don't move fast but they do hate people near them and their poop ball.

— Tour guide

The goliath dung beetle is the largest insect species on Norrab, rolling around the Sian Lowlands and the Looming Desert. They follow closely behind titanic tortonids, collecting their dung, curating perfect spheres for food, courtship, and nesting.

Goliath Dung Beetle by Mochi

These beetles measure a whopping six feet in height when relaxed. When reared up they stand up to twelve feet, flailing their front pair of arms in the air to ward off predators. They have a glossy green colouration, with subtle blue stripes on the elytra, head, abdomen, and legs.

Modified middle legs allow them to roll massive spheres of dung. The beetles roll around the terrain, picking up any tortonid faeces they come across.

The average dung ball is around twenty to twenty-two feet in diameter. The females of the species, much smaller than the males, burrow into the dung ball they find the most impressive, laying eggs. She guards these eggs while her partner continues to roll around and expand the ball. Both consume the dung ball as it grows.

Goliath dung beetles are one to watch out for when travelling through Aridara. They become aggressive when creatures get too close to their dung ball - thankfully, these beetles are slow. While they cannot chase for long, and at high speeds, they make up for this by being incredibly strong. Male dung beetles can push or lift fifty times its own weight, which is usually around a hundred kilograms.