Common Dor Beetle
ExploreInsects
Common Dor Beetle
geotrupes stercorarius
The Common Dor Beetle (Geotrupes stercorarius), also known as the lousy watchman, is a heavy-bodied and ecologically vital beetle native to Europe. This species is famous for its role as a nature recycler, performing the critical task of breaking down and burying animal dung. By excavating deep tunnels beneath dung piles, they aerate the soil, facilitate nutrient cycling, and reduce the breeding grounds of pestilent flies. Their tireless tunneling and waste processing make them unsung champions of pasture ecosystems.
Habitat: Typically found in pastures, meadows, and open woodlands where grazing livestock are present.
Appearance
This robust beetle measures between 1 and 3 centimeters in length, featuring a highly convex, oval-shaped body. While its upper side is a glossy black, its underside and the edges of its body display a striking, iridescent metallic violet, blue, or green sheen. The wing cases (elytra) are marked with distinct, deep longitudinal grooves, and its strong legs are heavily lined with spines adapted for digging. Its short antennae are tipped with fan-like, sensory clubs.
KingdomAnimaliaPhylumArthropodaClassInsectaOrderColeopteraFamilyGeotrupidaeGenusGeotrupes
Category
InsectsRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Their nickname 'lousy watchman' comes from the fact that they are often covered in tiny, harmless phoretic mites and fly with a clumsy, heavy buzz at dusk.
These beetles are remarkably strong for their size, capable of pushing objects that weigh many times their own body weight.
To provide for their offspring, parent beetles work in pairs to excavate deep tunnels, filling individual side-chambers with a sausage-like mass of dung for each single egg.
Special abilities
Ability
Heavy Excavation
Equipped with powerful, spine-covered forelegs, the beetle can rapidly tunnel up to 60 centimeters deep into compacted soil to create underground breeding chambers.
Ability
Scent Tracking
Using sensitive, fan-clubbed antennae, it can detect the faint scent of fresh herbivore manure from great distances, navigating directly to its food source.
Ability
Stridulation Defense
When threatened, the beetle can rub its hind legs against its abdomen to produce a distinct, high-pitched squeak to startle potential predators.
Measurements & details
- Length
- 1+ cm
- Wingspan
- 3+ cm
- Weight
- 0.001+ kg
- Lifespan
- 1+ years
- Top Speed
- 8 km/h
- Clutch Size
- 5+
- Incubation
- 10+ days
Diet & Feeding
Both adults and larvae feed almost exclusively on the dung of herbivorous mammals, recycling nutrients back into the ground.
Age differences: Larvae feed on dung reserves carefully prepared by the parents in breeding chambers, while adults feed on fresh dung at the surface.
Primary Foods
- Cow manure
- Horse dung
- Sheep droppings
- Decaying organic matter
Foraging Method
- Foraging
Ecological connections
eaten by
Eurasian Badger
Meles meles
Badgers readily dig up beetle burrows to eat the adult beetles and their plump larvae.
mutualism
Phoretic Mite
Parasitus coleoptratorum
Mites hitch a ride on the beetle's underside to travel to new dung piles, in turn feeding on fly larvae that compete with the beetle.
mutualism
Domestic Cattle
Bos taurus
The beetle relies on cattle manure for food and nesting, while its tunneling helps clear the pasture and aerates the soil.
Traits
No trait badges are assigned for this object yet.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
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Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
No special safety notes yet.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to identify Common Dor Beetle?
The easiest way to identify Common Dor Beetle is to use the Snappit nature identifier app.
How long is Common Dor Beetle?
1+ cm
What is Common Dor Beetle's wingspan?
3+ cm
How much does Common Dor Beetle weigh?
0.001+ kg
How long does Common Dor Beetle live?
1+ years
How fast can Common Dor Beetle move?
8 km/h
What does Common Dor Beetle eat?
Both adults and larvae feed almost exclusively on the dung of herbivorous mammals, recycling nutrients back into the ground.
Where is Common Dor Beetle usually found?
Typically found in pastures, meadows, and open woodlands where grazing livestock are present.
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