Shard-Borne Beetle
A name popularly applied to more than one of the large Beetles, whose habit it is to fly heavily along, and which are, therefore, rendered noticeable by their habits. The name is taken from the term shard, formerly employed to denote any hard, thin body, and therefore used for the hard wing-cases of Beetles, which, spread out in flight, help to bear the insects up in the air; hence, "Shard-borne."
The Beetle to which the name is most frequently given is one known also by other names, such as Dor Beetle. Its scientific name is Geotrupes stercorarius, and signifies "Dung-loving Earth-digger," a name very well chosen, in allusion to the habits of the insect The Beetle is usually about 1in. long, and is oblong and heavy in form. It is nearly black, or dark violet, or metallic-blue or green. The wing-cases are grooved lengthwise. The Beetles are abundant throughout Britain, flying heavily and clumsily in summer evenings, and often striking against people in their flight. The females are in search of dung of cattle or of other large animals. If dung is found, the Beetles burrow through it to the ground; and there they dig "tunnels," about 1ft. long, straight downwards. Into each tunnel they push a ball of dung, and lay an egg in the ball. The young grub is thus provided with dung as food; and in the tunnel it grows and becomes a pupa, and then a beetle, which emerges, and provides in like manner for its own progeny. All "Dung-Beetles" are harmless, if not actually useful in gardens, on account of their habits.