Minotaur Beetle (Typhaeus typhoeus)

The Minotaur Beetle is a large dung beetle whose preferred habitat is short, grazed turf on dry, sandy soils.  It is so named due to the 3 horns (two long and one short) it has on its thorax.  The males of the species use these horns in combat to defend their territories and compete for females.  Minotaur Beetles may be encountered as they roll rabbit droppings to their burrows which they stock up to feed their larvae.  These burrows can be as much as 1.5 metres deep and are used by adult pairs to overwinter.  The best time to look for the adult beetles is on mild/sunny days between September and April.