Minotaur Beetle

Name: Minotaur Beetle

Scientific name: Typhaeus typhoeus

Category: Minibeasts

Nature Stars: 60

What are nature stars?

About: A large, round dung beetle, about 2.5cm long. Black and shiny, with ridges running down the wing cases. Found in sandy grassland and heathland, where it feeds on rabbit droppings and other dung.

How to identify: The largest dung beetle. Males are unmistakeable, with three long 'horns' on the thorax.

Where: Widespread but scarce in England and Wales.

Natural Superpowers

• Predator: 10
• Agility: 60
• Rarity: 60
• Cute factor: 50
• Traveller: 40

Fantastic fact: Dung beetles bury balls of dung on which the female lays her eggs. The larvae hatch out underground and eat the dung. Yuck!

Photograph credit: Cécile Bassaglia