Anoplotrupes stercorosus



Anoplotrupes stercorosus, the dor beetle, is a species of earth-boring dung beetle belonging to the family Geotrupidae, subfamily Geotrupinae.

Varieties
Varieties or forms that have been recognized at times include the following:
 * A. stercorosus var. viridis (Dalla Torre, 1879)
 * A. stercorosus var. amoethystinus (Mulsant, 1842)
 * A. stercorosus var. nigrinus (Mulsant, 1842)
 * A. stercorosus ab. juvenilis (Mulsant, 1842)

These are now regarded as synonyms of the parent taxon; the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature does not recognize named forms other than subspecies.

Distribution
This beetle is present throughout most of Europe and in Asia. It is also found in other regions of the world where cattle have been introduced, such as Australia.

Habitat
These beetles inhabit fresh areas of broadleaf forests, mainly beech forests; moist mixed forest; and fresh coniferous forests.

Description
The adults of A. stercorosus grow up to 12 - 19 mm long and therefore they do not reach the length of the very similar common dung beetle (Geotrupes stercorarius). The body colour is blue-black, while the underside is usually metallic blue. The elytra have seven longitudinal slightly dotted grooves. The wings may be blue, violet or green. Antennae are reddish brown. Geotrupes stercorarius presents three keels on the outer side of the tibia of the third pair of legs, while A. stercorosus presents only two.

Biology
Adults can be encountered from June through the following spring.

In spring they lay eggs in chambers at the end of a corridor dug in the soil that is approximately 70 - 80 cm long, in which dead plant matter or feces of herbivorous and omnivorous animals are placed to feed the larvae.

The larvae overwinter and pupate in spring, requiring a year to complete the whole process.

Adult dung beetles feed on feces and carrion. They may also feed on litter mold, decomposing fungi and Phallus impudicus.