About Trypocopris vernalis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Trypocopris vernalis, originally described by Linnaeus in 1758, was previously classified under the genus Geotrupes as Geotrupes vernalis. It is a species of dung beetle, sometimes known by the common names spring dumbledor or spring dor beetle. This beetle is black in color, and its body shows almost no reflectance in the near infrared region of the spectrum. The larvae of Trypocopris vernalis feed on dung from animals including sheep (Ovis aries) and red foxes (Vulpes vulpes). This species is distributed across Europe and Asia Minor. Trypocopris vernalis is classified as either a super-dominant or dominant species of earth-boring dung beetle, with its status depending on the season. It is most common during spring and early summer, and is only rarely sighted in the autumn. According to research by Hülsmann et al., Trypocopris vernalis prefers open or semi-open habitats and young woodlands.
