Geotrupes spiniger

Dor beetle at Murrumbateman, NSW

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Identification history

Geotrupes spiniger	3 Nov 2016	KimPullen
Geotrupes spiniger	3 Nov 2016	KimPullen
Onthophagus sp. (genus)	27 Oct 2016	MichaelMulvaney
Unidentified	20 Sep 2016	SallyandPeter

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User's notes

Would love to know what the beetle is but what are the mites on it also

11 comments

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

24 Sep 2016

I think it is a native dung beetle Onthophagus sp. Don't know about the mite

SallyandPeter wrote:

24 Sep 2016

Hi Michael, It could be a Dung beetle we have lots of it around. It think the mites were eating it. It was stlll alive when I took the photo. Thanks, Peter

KimPullen wrote:

4 Nov 2016

The mites are probably just hitching a ride on the beetle, i.e. they are phoretic rather than parasitic. If that is the case they will not be harming the beetle.

SallyandPeter wrote:

4 Nov 2016

Thanks Kim. The beetle did die but that may not have been a result of the mites. Maybe like a scale on a sick plant.

MichaelMulvaney wrote:

4 Nov 2016

Dor Beetle is a European Beetle introduced to deal with cattle dung, you can read a lttle bit about it at

http://maxa.maf.govt.nz/sff/about-projects/search/09-079/dung-beetle-factsheet-four.pdf

SallyandPeter wrote:

4 Nov 2016

Thanks Michael, really interesting. Hope my horse drenches don't do too much damage

RogerF wrote:

5 Nov 2016

Its ivomectin that does the damage

SallyandPeter wrote:

5 Nov 2016

Bugger! Will keep it in mind, that's why it is so effective.

RogerF wrote:

5 Nov 2016

The effects of the antiparasitic drug, ivermectin, on the development and survival of the dung-breeding fly, Orthelia cornicina (F.) and the scarabaeine dung beetles, Copris hispanus L., Bubas bubalus (Oliver) and Onitis belial F.
•K. G. Wardhaugh,
•Herminia Rodriguez-Menendez

SallyandPeter wrote:

5 Nov 2016

Thanks Kim. I looked at the extract of that article and it is a very potent and effective drug. It must effect native insects as well, is there any research that you know of on that. Peter

RogerF wrote:

5 Nov 2016

Native dung beetles are less common in cow and horse dung but their larvae would be killed by ivermectin. There is an alternative vermifuge in the same group that is less toxic to dung beetles but I can't recall the name Chemical alternatives to treatment of cattle with Ivermectin
Chemical alternatives to treatment of cattle with Ivermectin

(1991)

Chemical alternatives to treatment of cattle with Ivermectin. McCracken, D & Bignal, E

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Location information

Coordinates 149.067702 -34.974459
Places Murrumbateman, NSW

Sighting information

1 Abundance
20 Sep 2016 05:26 PM Recorded on
SallyandPeter Recorded by
Collections
Insects Other beetles Beetles (Coleoptera) SallyandPeter Canberra & Southern Tablelands NatureMapr

Species information

Geotrupes spiniger Scientific name
Dor beetle Common name
Not Sensitive
Exotic
Non-invasive or negligible
Machine learning
External link More information