Research to minimise the impact of bush flies will enter its final stages this winter with the relocation of a species of dung beetle to the Mid-West.
Two years of research into dung beetle activity across 12 South-West sites had been completed by the Department of Agriculture and Food.
Over 1,200 dung pats were hand-collected for bait in traps used to determine species distribution and diversity.
Nine introduced species and two native species were recorded in pastures in the South-West.
Of significance was one species, Copris hispanus, released in the 1980s, which was found only in the Williams area. The large winter beetle is well adapted to the conditions in Williams and has proven effective in eliminating cow dung.
Winter-active beetles also provide good agronomic benefits for farmers including nutrient recycling and soil penetration.
Hundreds of Copris hispanus will be collected from Williams and relocated to Badgingarra and Geraldton to tackle bush fly numbers there.
The winter program will complement the planned introduction of two new spring-active species of dung beetle to bury dung and reduce bush flies.
The new beetles are with CSIRO in Canberra and tests are progressing well and they should be ready for limited release in September.
Areas of the Great Southern - from Williams to Kojonup - have been identified as best suited to the new spring species of beetle.
While all beetles will take time to establish, within about a decade the benefits of new winter and spring beetle populations should become evident through increased dung burial and fewer bush flies in the summer months, particularly in the South-West.