Etymology: It is this common dung beetle that was known as 'Dumbledore' locally in SW England, 'dor' being the sound of them in flight. Thomas Hardy got this wrong, and thought 'dumbledore' was a Dorset name for bumblebees, which also of course make a deep buzzing sound. J.K.Rowling got the name of the Harry Potter character from Hardy who refers to them both in The Mayor of Casterbridge and a poetic description of 'Humstrums', an old country musical instrument.Now a 100-view shot
This geotrupid beetle came to a light and landed on me--I captured it for some photos. They won't stay upright on a flat surface--I placed it on some sand.-BugGuide accountPCCA20080714-3774A