As in the case of the Scarabaeus sacer, the exact spherical form is produced without the mechanical device of rolling the ball.  Before it is moved, even before it is cut loose from its point of support, the fragment is modelled into the shape of a sphere.  The beetle as geometer is aware of the form best adapted to the long preservation of preserved foods.

The ball is soon ready.  It must now be forced to acquire, by means of a vigorous rolling, the crust which will protect the interior from a too rapid evaporation.  The mother, recognisable by her slightly robuster body, takes the place of honour in front.  Her long hinder legs on the soil, her forelegs on the ball, she drags it towards her as she walks backwards.  The father pushes behind, moving tail first, his head held low.  This is exactly the method of the Scarabaeus beetles, which also work in couples, though for another object.  The Sisyphus beetles harness themselves to provide an inheritance for their larvae; the larger insects are concerned in obtaining the material for a banquet which the two chance-met partners will consume underground.

The couple set off, with no definite goal ahead, across the irregularities of the soil, which cannot be avoided by a leader who hauls backwards.  But even if the Sisyphus saw the obstacles she would not try to evade them:  witness her obstinate endeavour to drag her load up the wire gauze of her cage!

A hopeless undertaking!  Fixing her hinder claws in the meshes of the wire gauze the mother drags her burden towards her; then, enlacing it with her legs, she holds it suspended.  The father, finding no purchase for his legs, clutches the ball, grows on to it, so to speak, thus adding his weight to that of the burden, and awaits events.  The effort is too great to last.  Ball and beetle fall together.  The mother, from above, gazes a moment in surprise, and suddenly lets herself fall, only to re-embrace the ball and recommence her impracticable efforts to scale the wall.  After many tumbles the attempt is at last abandoned.

Even on level ground the task is not without its difficulties.  At every moment the load swerves on the summit of a pebble, a fragment of gravel; the team are overturned, and lie on their backs, kicking their legs in the air.  This is a mere nothing.  They pick themselves up and resume their positions, always quick and lively.  The accidents which so often throw them on their backs seem to cause them no concern; one would even think they were invited.  The pilule has to be matured, given a proper consistency.  In these conditions falls, shocks, blows, and jolts might well enter into the programme.  This mad trundling lasts for hours and hours.