Invertebrates
Dor Beetle
Geotrupes stercorarius · also called dumbledor
At dusk over a cow pasture, a dor beetle drones past with a sound like a tiny motor, heading for a fresh pat of dung.
Overview
The dor beetle, Geotrupes stercorarius, is a large dung beetle of European pastures, with a glossy black body and a metallic blue-violet underside. Its droning flight, deep burrows, and mite passengers make it one of the best-known beetles of the English countryside.
A beetle that buries the evidence
Each dor beetle drags dung deep into its burrow, enriching the soil and reducing the number of flies that breed in the open pat.
Status
Not Evaluated, but widespread and common in pastures.
Dor Beetle: common questions
Why is it called the dor beetle?
The name refers to the loud, droning buzz it makes in flight at dusk, and it was traditionally called the dumbledor.
What do dor beetles do with dung?
They dig a deep burrow beneath a pat of dung and drag dung down into it to feed their young.
Why is it covered in mites?
The small, pale mites ride on the beetle to reach fresh dung and do it no harm.
Where is the dor beetle found?
It lives in pastures and grasslands with livestock dung across Europe and parts of Asia.