Bug FAQWoodland Dor Beetle
Anoplotrupes stercorosus · Order: Coleoptera · Family: Geotrupidae
Also called: dor beetle
Adult woodland dor beetles are 12 to 19 mm long and have a blue-black body with a metallic blue underside; their elytra show seven faint longitudinal grooves and the wings may appear blue, violet or green, while the antennae are reddish-brown. They live in fresh broadleaf and coniferous forests across most of Europe and Asia, and adults are active from June through the following spring, feeding on dung, carrion, moldy litter and certain fungi.
Source: Wikipedia
How to recognize it
The beetle’s body is blue-black with a metallic blue underside, its elytra have seven faint longitudinal grooves, the wing covers can be blue, violet or green, and the antennae are reddish-brown.
Source: Wikipedia
Size
Adults grow to about 12 to 19 mm (0.47 to 0.75 in) long.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it lives
They inhabit fresh areas of broadleaf forests, especially beech, as well as moist mixed and fresh coniferous forests.
Source: Wikipedia
What it eats
Adults feed on feces, carrion, litter mold, decomposing fungi and the mushroom Phallus impudicus.
Source: Wikipedia
Life cycle
Larvae spend the winter in the soil, pupate in spring and need a full year to develop into adults.
Source: Wikipedia
When you see it
Adults can be seen from June through the following spring.
Source: Wikipedia
Where it comes from
The species is found throughout most of Europe and in parts of Asia.
Source: Wikipedia
More photos
Questions people ask
How can I recognize a woodland dor beetle?
Look for a 12 to 19 mm beetle with a blue-black body, metallic blue underside, seven faint grooves on the elytra, and reddish-brown antennae.
Source: Wikipedia
Where does this beetle live?
It lives in fresh broadleaf and coniferous forests across most of Europe and Asia, especially in beech forests.
Source: Wikipedia
What does the beetle eat?
Adults feed on dung, carrion, moldy leaf litter, decomposing fungi and the mushroom Phallus impudicus.
Source: Wikipedia
When can I see these beetles?
Adults are active from June through the following spring.
Source: Wikipedia
Same family (Geotrupidae)
Sources
- Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anoplotrupes_stercorosus
Look it up elsewhere: GBIF · iNaturalist · BugGuide · Wikipedia
Text written 2026-10-24 from the sources above and checked sentence by sentence against them. Data fetched 2026-10-22.