The blue poo-movers

The dor beetle (Anoplotrupes stercorosus) is a medium-sized, sturdy, blue beetle, common in forests. Apart from during the coldest winters, you can find it wandering on forest paths or in clearings all year round. It is particularly fond of deer droppings, which it drags under the ground through special passages it has built for its eggs and larvae. It lays its eggs on the droppings, which the larvae then eat when they hatch.

Try and catch a dor beetle for a better look. They don’t move very fast, so they are quite easy to catch. If you flip one onto its back, you can see the fantastic blue colour on its underside. Dor beetles have to be strong to do all that digging. If you close your hand around the beetle you have caught, it can demonstrate its strength. The beetle can easily squeeze its way out between your fingers.