Anoplotrupes stercorosus
| Anoplotrupes stercorosus | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Arthropoda |
| Class: | Insecta |
| Order: | Coleoptera |
| Family: | Geotrupidae |
| Genus: | Anoplotrupes |
| Species: | A. stercorosus |
| Binomial name | |
| Anoplotrupes stercorosus (Hartmann in L. G. Scriba, 1791) | |
| Synonyms | |
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Anoplotrupes stercorosus is a species of earth-boring dung beetles belonging to the family Geotrupidae subfamily Geotrupinae.
This beetle is present throughout Europe. The colour of Anoplotrupes stercorosus is blue-black, while the underside is usually metallic blue. The elytra have longitudinal slightly dotted grooves.
The adults grow up to 12–20 millimetres (0.47–0.79 in) long and can be encountered from June through the following spring, mainly in beech forests. This dung beetle feeds on feces, rotting fungi and tree lymph of the host-plants.
In spring they lay eggs in chambers at the end of a corridor that is approximately 70–80 centimetres (28–31 in) long and built in the soil, where feces of herbivorous and omnivorous animals are placed in to feed the larvae. The larvae overwinter and pupate in spring, requiring a year to complete the whole process.
References
- Anderson, R., Nash, R. & O'Connor, J. P. 1997, Irish Coleoptera: a revised and annotated list, Irish Naturalists' Journal Special Entomological Supplement, 1-81
- Joy, N. H., 1932, A practical handbook of British beetles, H. F. & G. Witherby, London
- Jessop, L., 1986, Coleoptera: Scarabaeoidea. Dung beetles and chafers
- Mann, D., 2002, Geotrupidae in: Checklist of Beetles of the British Isles. www.coleopterist.org.uk