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Updated: May 14, 2026

Using Pharmacological Manipulation and High-precision Radio Telemetry to Study the Spatial Cognition in Free-ranging Animals
Published on: November 6, 2016
Animal navigation: a galaxy of cues
1Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ 08544-1003, USA. gould@princeton.edu
Dung beetles navigate using the Milky Way. These insects can orient their routes by this celestial band on clear nights without other visual cues.
Area of Science:
- Animal behavior
- Ethology
- Insect navigation
Background:
- Celestial navigation is crucial for many species.
- The Milky Way's role in animal orientation is not well understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate if dung beetles use the Milky Way for orientation.
- To determine the specific celestial cues utilized by dung beetles for navigation.
Main Methods:
- Experiments were conducted on clear nights.
- Potential celestial cues were systematically excluded.
- Beetle routes were tracked to analyze orientation patterns.
Main Results:
- Dung beetles successfully oriented their routes using the Milky Way.
- Orientation was consistent in the absence of other known cues.
- The Milky Way band served as a reliable navigational aid.
Conclusions:
- Dung beetles possess the remarkable ability to navigate using the Milky Way.
- This finding expands our understanding of insect orientation and celestial cue utilization.
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