Ulke's Earth Boring Beetle
Geotrupes ulkei
This record describes Geotrupes ulkei (species). Recorded family: Geotrupidae. Recorded order: Coleoptera.
Identification and Appearance
Elytra with striae obsolete, suture fused.
Classification
- Kingdom
- Animalia
- Phylum
- Arthropoda
- Class
- Insecta
- Order
- Coleoptera (Beetles)
- Suborder
- Polyphaga
- Superfamily
- Scarabaeoidea
- Family
- Geotrupidae (Earth-Boring Scarab Beetles)
- Subfamily
- Geotrupinae
- Genus
- Geotrupes
Imported taxonomy record. Source availability varies; see the source references and editorial policy below.
Habitat and Range
Geographic Range
Mountain ridges and passes in the Appalachians from N. Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia and now W. Virginia!
Diet and Behavior
Diet: dung, fungi, leaf litter?
Additional species information
Species notes from the sources
Etymology: Named in honor of Henry Ulke .
About Primitive Winged Insects: the wider group
Order-level background for Coleoptera, the group containing Geotrupes ulkei. Species-specific details appear above.
Group overview
Coleoptera is the largest order of insects with over 400,000 described species, representing ~25% of all known animal species and ~40% of all insects. In the U.S. alone, nearly 30,000 beetle species have been identified.
Ecological role of the group
Beetles are prominent decomposers, especially in forests, breaking down dead wood and recycling nutrients. As predators, they reduce populations of pest insects. Many species are also important pollinators of flowering plants.
Economic and practical significance of the group
Beetles have major economic significance: leaf beetles (Chrysomelidae) and weevils (Curculionoidea) are among the most destructive agricultural pests globally, costing billions annually, while predatory species like ladybugs provide natural pest control.
Recorded sources for this group: Britannica, Smithsonian, NCSU Entomology. Imported estimates may describe particular regions or reporting periods.
Photos of Ulke's Earth Boring Beetle (4)
Photo credits: Contributed by Phillip Harpootlian
Frequently Asked Questions About Ulke's Earth Boring Beetle
What is Ulke's Earth Boring Beetle?
Ulke's Earth Boring Beetle (Geotrupes ulkei) is a species in the family Geotrupidae, within the order Coleoptera.
How do you identify Ulke's Earth Boring Beetle?
Elytra with striae obsolete, suture fused.
Where is Ulke's Earth Boring Beetle found?
Range: Mountain ridges and passes in the Appalachians from N. Alabama, Tennessee, Virginia and now W. Virginia!
What does Ulke's Earth Boring Beetle eat?
The diet of the Ulke's Earth Boring Beetle includes dung, fungi, leaf litter?.