Geotrupes stercorarius

A large beetle up to 26 mm long and weakly lustrous, the legs in particular having a bluish tinge. The body shape is very compact and arched toward the top. It is commonly known a the Dor Beetle and also as the Dung Beetle.

There are other very similar species in this genus which means that detailed examination of an actual specimen is generally needed to identify the exact species. A red box around the image indicates that we think it is likely to be this species but can't be 100% certain.

Geotrupes spiniger looks almost identical but this species lacks the uniform hairs across the central part of the ventral tergites.

Grazing pasture and Woodland.

April to October.

The beetles normally frequent grazing pastures - where they dig out a nesting tunnel under suitable dung and line the nest with dung for the larvae to feed on. But they are also found in woodland where they use decaying fungi or rotting plants as a breeding habitat.

Widespread and fairly frequent in Britain.

Fairly frequent in Leicestershire and Rutland.

For an illustrated guide to the Geotrupidae (Dor beetles), see here.