Dor beetles are black with a broad, rounded and armoured back which protects its wings. Has some similar species but can be told apart by the small dimples on the outer edges of its pronotum (the bit between its head and wingcases).
Latin name: Geotrupes stercorarius
Size: Up to 26mm long
Overview
The Dor beetle is a mucky little character which spends much of its life in and around cow pats and other sources of dung. It is one of the country’s largest dung beetles and is usually seen in the countryside feeding on cow pats, where it also lays its eggs. This provides the larvae with lots of stinky food to get them going once they hatch. They are clumsy fliers and are often found recovering from a crash landing. Their name comes from the low buzzing drone you can hear when they fly, as Dor was an old word for drone. Many of these smelly little beetles carry small mites on their underbelly which has led to them gaining the nickname ‘Lousy Watchman’.
In the garden
Of course, no one expects us to have cow pats on our garden lawn but the Dor beetle can be attracted in other ways. They will often use rotting fungi or plants as a breeding ground so compost heaps or other sources of rotting plant life can attract this species. Seen between April and October, they are the dustmen of the countryside, performing a crucial clean up job.
Did you know?
The Dor beetle (and its larvae) has a big appetite and will eat its own bodyweight in poo on a daily basis!