Painting of Dung beetle ( Circellium bacchus)Habitat and Food Source(s): Mouthparts are for chewing. Larvae feed on animal excrement buried by the adults. These beetles are rarely encountered unless an effort is made to examine fresh potential larval habitats! Animal excrement is rich in insect fauna and can yield these strikingly beautiful beetles. Beetles can be washed to remove debris.Dung beetles are so important, because they get rid of so much dung in such a useful way. This not only makes the world a nicer, and distinctly less smelly place to live in, but also reduces the numbers of other insects like flies which also like to breed in dung and helps in the recycling of soil nutrients.