often covered with mites—although unlike true

lice, these are not parasites but are phoretic, using

the beetle as transportation between piles of dung.

The subfamily Bolboceratinae has much more

refined tastes, developing in truffles or other

subterranean fungi. Many of these are uncommon

and rarely encountered, though some can be a

minor pest of commercial truffle farms. The third

group, Lethrinae, feed on balls of dead leaves, and

all three groups show advanced parental care of

the developing larvae in the burrow.

Some geotrupids, particularly males, have

horns or projections on the head or thorax, to

defend the burrow with the larval food supply

against predators or rivals.

diet

Geotrupinae feed and develop on dung,

carrion, and fungi, Bolboceratinae on

subterranean fungi, and Lethrinae on balls

of dead leaves

notes

Many Geotrupidae show advanced

bi-parental care, with both parents

provisioning a burrow with food for the

larvae. The life history of many species was

unraveled by French entomologist Jean

Henri Fabre in the nineteenth century

above | Typhaeus typhoeus

A male Minotaur Beetle.

Named after the mythical

labyrinth-inhabiting

monster, these horned

beetles bury dung in tunnels

up to 1.5 meters deep.

opposite | Bolbelasmus

unicornis Female (left) and

male (right); a truffle-hunter,

with larvae developing in

subterranean fungi. It is a

scarce and threatened species

in Europe.