Minotaur Beetle (Typhaeus typhoeus) —

Minotaur Beetle (Typhaeus typhoeus) — 

The Minotaur beetle is one of the UK’s most powerful dung beetles, specialised for sandy soils. Here in Farnham Surrey we typically find them in heathlands, and sandy pine forests, or in this case my garden. 

Male Minotaur beetles have three distinct horns on the thorax, giving them the “Minotaur” name.Females lack these horns.

These horns provide leverage in fighting with rival males and of course pushing that lovely dung around and underground for brood care. These amazing beetles bury balls of dung from various herbivores, like rabbits and sheep. 

They have been known to dig long burrows, with a single pair excavating a tunnel up to 1 metre deep, (It’s like a human digging a tunnel as deep as the Statue of Liberty is tall),

where they then form “brood chambers” where the female lays one egg per chamber.

Also they exhibit parental care where both parents cooperate to look after their broods — highly unusual among insects. They continually guard them and bring fresh dung to the larvae

This makes Typhaeus typhoeus one of the most behaviourally advanced dung beetles in Europe.

Unlike most beetles, Minotaurs are most active in autumn, and early spring, and I found this beetle in early November.