Insect
Common Dor Beetle
Geotrupes stercorariusAlso known as Dor Beetle, Dumbledore, Clock Beetle
Dor beetles are powerful burrowers that excavate deep vertical tunnels beneath animal droppings, dragging dung underground to provision brood chambers for their larvae. Adults often fly on warm, still evenings with a loud, droning hum, homing in on the scent of herbivore dung over long distances. By burying dung, they aerate pastures, accelerate nutrient cycling, and suppress parasitic fly larvae that would otherwise plague livestock.
NocturnalBurrowingDecomposer
—observations
—countries
—peak records
Least ConcernConservation statusIUCN Red List categoriesLCNTVUENCREWEXLeast ConcernRed List categories, explained →
Diet & preyCattle Dung, Horse Dung, Decaying Fungi
Predators
- Tawny Owl
- European Badger
- Red Fox
ThreatsVeterinary parasiticides in livestock dung and agricultural intensification
HabitatsPastures, open woodlands, heaths, and meadows
Life span1 to 2 years
Classification
- OrderColeoptera
- FamilyGeotrupidae
- GenusGeotrupes
- SpeciesGeotrupes stercorarius
Range data is not available yet.
Interaction riskLow
- Low
- Moderate
- High
- Very high
- Why interaction risk is low
- Safe to observe at a normal distance.
Responsible observation
- Dusk Flights: Look for them buzzing clumsily around pasture edges on mild summer evenings.
- Gentle Inspection: If found walking on paths, carefully lift them by the sides of the shell to examine the metallic violet underside.
Predator (c) caroline legg, some rights reserved (CC BY) · cc-by
Same Family (c) Björn S..., some rights reserved (CC BY-SA) · cc-by-sa
Same Family (c) Dr. Guido Bohne, some rights reserved (CC BY-SA), uploaded by Dr. Guido Bohne · cc-by-sa
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