Head to head
Dor Beetle vs Minotaur Beetle
Dor Beetle
VS Minotaur Beetle
The dor beetle and the minotaur beetle are two dung-burying beetles of the same family, glossy black and heavy-bodied, that dig deep burrows beneath dung.
| Dor Beetle | Minotaur Beetle | |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific name | Geotrupes stercorarius | Typhaeus typhoeus |
| Relationship | A dung-burying beetle of the family Geotrupidae | A dung-burying beetle of the same family as the dor beetle |
| Appearance | Glossy black above with a metallic blue-violet to purple underside, about 20 to 25 mm long | A rounded, shiny black body, with the male carrying three long, forward-curving horns on his thorax |
| Burrow | A deep burrow beneath a pat of dung, sometimes more than half a metre down | Burrows in sandy soil that can reach about a metre deep, ending in side chambers |
| Dung | Livestock dung, dragged down to feed the young | Rabbit and sheep dung, stocked in the burrow by the female |
| Flight and company | Flies at dusk with a loud droning buzz, and is often covered in clinging mites | A male and female share the work of the burrow |
| Habitat | Pastures and grasslands with livestock dung across Europe and parts of Asia | Sandy heaths, dunes, and grazed grassland across Europe |
| Conservation status | Not Evaluated, but widespread and common in pastures | Not Evaluated, though dependent on the dung of grazing animals |
Dor Beetle vs Minotaur Beetle: common questions
Which one has horns?
The male minotaur beetle, which has three long horns on his thorax that curve forward like a bull's horns.
Which one makes a droning noise?
The dor beetle, which flies at dusk with a loud, droning buzz and was traditionally called the dumbledor.
Which one lives on sandy heaths?
The minotaur beetle, which digs deep burrows in sandy soil and stocks them with rabbit and sheep dung.