Two Beetles for ID please

INHT · #1 (**permalink**) 30-07-2011, 07:45 PM

The first is, I'm sure, a Dung Beetle, but i'm imagining there's lots of different sorts and it looks rather attractively coloured.
The second - a click beetle?
Thanks,
Becky
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Paul mabbott · #2 (**permalink**) 30-07-2011, 07:54 PM

Yes, the first is a dor beetle, Geotrupes sp. (Geotrupidae). These often have blue or occasionally green irridescence. Would need to get aview of some other parts, and know the length before hazarding a guess on which species.

Again, yes, a click-beetle (Elateridae). Again, I'd like to see more details and know the length. Athous haemorrhoidalis is one of our larger, common clicks buy not entirely convined!
Athous haemorrhoidalis

INHT · #3 (**permalink**) 30-07-2011, 08:04 PM

Thanks Paul. Is a Dor Beetle the same as a Dung beetle? I'd say this one was just under an inch in length. Sadly didn't manage to get photos of the other parts. Which ones should I concentrate on?
The Click Beetle was even more difficult to photograph as your link suggests. It disappeared into thin air the minute i tried to get nearer. It was not very big, smaller than the Dor beetle in length, but not by a great deal.

Thanks again,
Becky

Paul mabbott · #4 (**permalink**) 31-07-2011, 09:17 AM

The super-family Scaraboidea consists of several families including the chafers, some detritivores such as the Lucanidae and families such as the Aphodidae and Geotrupidae which are predominantly dung beetles. Yes, is the answer!

I don't deal in inches - best to stick to millimetres. The point of this is that of the three most common geotrupids (Geotrupes spiniger, G. stercorarius and G. stercorosus) one is considerable smaller than the other. I'm away from my literature at the moment so unable to say which!

Other features include the shape and 'spottiness' of the forebody, the number of striae (longitudinal lines) on the elytra and where these start, the external surface of the hind leg ....

Up in Islay you may have something other than the common species. As mentioned, I really can't remember any more without the books!

Good luck. I'll be back in a month or so .... I hope.

INHT · #5 (**permalink**) 01-08-2011, 05:19 AM

Thanks, Paul. Food for thought there. I'm discovering that insects in general are very under recorded on Islay so am trying to record as much as I can!

Becky