Impurest's Guide to Animals - Issue #83 Minotaur Beetle

Well here we have another August issue of Impurest’s Guide to Animals, and this time we head to an environment we haven’t been too before, deep into the bowls of the earth. True we’ve had some worms, and last week’s issue, the adorable Aardwolf, lives in a burrow, but I’m talking about a master burrower here. Hope you guys enjoy the issue…

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Issue #83 – Minotaur Beetle

Kingdom – Animalia

Phylum – Arthropoda

Class – Insecta

Order – Coleoptera

Family – Geotrupidae

Genus – Thyphaeus

Species – typhoeus

Related Species – The Minotaur Beetle is one of the myriad of beetles found in the Scarab Beetle superfamily (1)

Range – Minotaur Beetles are found across meadows, heath and moorland across Southern England, Northern France and the Low Countries

The Mighty Minotaur

The Minotaur Beetle is a medium sized beetle, at around 1 to 2.5cm long, with a black carapace lined with ridges along the wing cases. Males are generally larger than the females and have more prominent horns, which are used to defend its burrow. Both genders have a formidable bite however, and will do so when threatened. The fore and hind limbs are particularly strong in this species of beetle, with the former used to excavate burrows and the later used in food collection.

Adult Minotaur Beetles feed on organic detritus, to build up their strength to collect larval food, build burrows and defend their young. The beetle grubs feed on herbivore dung, such as rabbits, sheep and horses (2), collected by the adults, which is rolled into a ball and then taken to the burrow, which can extend up to 2m deep and feature numerous side passages and twists to limit predatory access.

Minotaur Beetles even forage during the winter, to supply food for their growing larvae. When not foraging the beetles defend their burrow, with the male acting as the initial line of defence against nest invaders such as solitary wasps, wolf spiders and tiger beetles. Once the grubs pupate, the adult beetles die from exhaustion since they don’t eat once their eggs hatch.

Five Super Scarabs

The African Scarab (Scarabaeus zambesianus) is, at current the only insect to navigate their way using the position of the Milky Way in the night sky (3).

The Sacred Scarab (Scarabaeussacer), the most famous of all dung beetles was considered a holy animal in Ancient Egyptian Mythology. To them it was considered the avatar of Kephi, the celestial beetle who rolled the sun over the horizon

The Hercules Rhinoceros Scarab (Dynasteshercules) is widely considered the longest beetle, with a length of 17cm

In addition to being one of the longest beetles, the larval Goliath Dung Beetle (Goliathusgiganteus) is also one of the heaviest, with a weight of 100g

Not all Dung Beetles feed on faeces, the scarab Deltochilum valgum feeds exclusively on millipedes, using two barbed serrations on its head shield to decapitate their prey (4)

References

1. www.arkive.org

2. http://www.wildlifewatch.org.uk/Explore-wildlife/Animals/Minibeasts/Minotaur-Beetle

3. http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/01/21/carnivorous-dung-beetle-shuns-dung-and-decapitates-millipede/

4. http://scienceblogs.com/notrocketscience/2009/01/21/carnivorous-dung-beetle-shuns-dung-and-decapitates-millipede/

Picture References

1. http://m7.i.pbase.com/o6/20/648320/1/94177527.WUtYIcRu.Minotaurbeetle2.jpg

2. http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7212/7348646760_5f7e567ee2_z.jpg

3. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9f/Hercules.beetle.arp.jpg

4. http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ufx6efr8df8/T1I6BiC0ixI/AAAAAAAAB3w/QmIPbR3zOpI/s1600/giant_beetle_larva.jpg

Well that was the monstrous Minotaur Beetle and its tunnelling ability, not to mention its scarab beetle relatives. Next week we meet one of nature’s harlequins, one with a very dark side, but until then remember to critic, comment and discuss future species to cover as well as checking out past issues in Impurest’s Bestiary.

Many Thanks

Impurest Cheese

@cbishop,@laflux,@ostyo,@wildvine,@darling_luna,@samimista,@cattlebattle,@xwraith,

@cgoodness,@mslola,@squares,@scorpion2501,@darthaznable,@scattered316,@bumpyboo,

@knightsofdarkness2,@wolverine08,@dboyrules2011,@joshuadbr,@nighthunder,@johnjo719,

@itsomething,@delphic,@dngn4774,@bruxae,@jaken7,@ccraft,@wim_garnet,@claymore1998,

@ironspiderchan45,@dccomicsrule2011,@hylian,@transcendence,@rd189,@unbreakable_fs4,

@quinnofthestoneage,@fuzzylittlerodent,@the_kidd,@rd189,@thetruebarryallen,@thevivas, @korrasami,@swordmasterd,@veitha, @thedandyman,@infinityball,@scavengerfist,@masterkungfu, @orpheus_knightfall, @themongoose,@rocketraccoonthingyand @JetiiMitra

The Mighty Minotaur is here...

100g? How much does the adult weigh?

@laflux: 50 - 75g depending on gender

Don't think you put how long the Hercules Rhinoceros Scarab is.

Use X - Scissors!

@quinnofthestoneage: Ah okay, took half an hour to upload due to dodgy Wi-Fi. Thanks for the spot though, as such you can chose the topic of Issue 85 as thanks

@ostyo:More like Megahorn :-)

Very nice

Okay so not quite as drastic as the Paradox Frog then :P

@claymore1998: Cool thanks for the comment

I found one of these when I was younger, had it for a day and let him go. ^-^

@laflux: Yeah not that drastic, especially since it gains a 10cm wingspan as an adult, which is somewhat of a compromise for their reduced weight

What level does it learn megahorn?

@darling_luna: Oh cool, I did the same thing with some Lesser Stag Beetles living in my lawn mower recently, released them into the log-pile after sundown

@cgoodness: About L37. Choose Moxie as an ability, max it's HP and Attack, stick a Choice Scarf on it, and add Stone Edge, Knock Off and Earthquake as well for coverage. A few Moxie boosts will make it near unstoppable

^.^

@laflux:^_^

@impurestcheese:Bug Saver !

@darling_luna: Yep that's me, quick question though, on my end I can't see any of the images in the article. Are they still there?

@impurestcheese: Not on my end, sadly

@darling_luna: What in Hades is happening? May have to submit a bug report

The pics aren't showing up

@ccraft: Try now

@impurestcheese: Ooh thanks, I shall try and think of one ^-^

@quinnofthestoneage: Cool, Cool, Cool

Looks crunchy, lol.

@dboyrules2011: It'll be all that armour-plating...

@impurestcheese: Haha I'm aware of that. >_o

@impurestcheese: no worries friend, it's always a pleasure. Needless to say, you are most welcome =)

@dboyrules2011: Who isn't Beetles are like little tanks

@claymore1998: Then thanks once again

@impurestcheese: True.

@dboyrules2011: Yep

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOoo the horror!!!!!!!!!
~MiB

@impurestcheese: That too!

Is the bite poisonous? I like beetles but the ones here are small... and they usually show up after raining.

@impurestcheese: Funny...I thought he'd be taller.

Now I want to watch The Mummy again.

@madeinbangladesh: Calm down man, it's just a wee beetle

@ostyo: ;-p

@waynewilsonslade: Cool, thanks for the comment, do you want to be included in the regular callout?

@scavengerfist: The bite isn't venomous, at least not in this family

@cbishop: Taller huh, well he is a beetle

@ms-lola:Oh yes, I know exactly what you mean

@impurestcheese: It will kill you!!!!!

~MiB

@madeinbangladesh: No it won't

Is the larval Goliath Dung Beetle edible for humans?

But BUT but it could bite you and hurt you!!!!!!!!!!!!

~MiB

@black_wreath: I guess, only problem is that beetle larvae have no taste unless marinated in a sauce. That said when prepared correctly they are delicious, something I can personally attest too

@madeinbangladesh: Meh it's not like it's one of the finger amputating Titan Beetles

@waynewilsonslade:Cool Beans

@impurestcheese: Thanks for the cooking tips. :)

@black_wreath: No problem

@impurestcheese: how strong is this beetle compared to others?

@masterkungfu: Quite strong, the dung beetles are among the strongest insects with a lifting strength of 6 to 10 times their own weight