Dor beetle - Geotrupes stercorarius. Image taken in Peak District National Park, Derbyshire.
Dor beetle - Geotrupes stercorarius - 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. Although apparently plain black, they have a blue or green sheen that shows up better in real life and is best suggested in the middle image. The beetles are able to fly all be it rather cumbersome and make a droning noise when airborn 'dor' was an old word for 'drone'. This species is identified from similar species by the small 'dimples' on the outer edges of the pronotum. The adult beetles, 16 - 26mm, are classed as fairly common in the UK and are to be found from April to October.
Size: 7360px × 4912px
Location: Peak District National Park, Derbyshire, UK
Photo credit: © Simon Webster / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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