This is a European dung beetle species that was introduced to Tasmania in the early 1990’s. Native species could not cope with the ecology and volume of the farmed bovine emissions (Forster). Geotrupes spiniger buries cattle dung to feed its larvae. For this reason it was introduced to Australia to help reduce the volume of cow dung in pastures.
Geotrupes spiniger (Marsham)
Port Sorell
Early March 2008
Identification thanks to Adam Slipinkski
Late December 2015
Sisters Beach
Attracted to light
Geotrupes spiniger
Mid January 2013
Marrawah
Dead specimen
Identification and Geotrupes information thanks to Lynne Forster.
Late December 2015
Sisters Beach
Dead specimen
References
Lawrence, JF & Slipinski A, 2013. Australian Beetles; Morphology, Classification and Keys, CSIRO Publishing, Collingwood.