Family: Geotrupidae
Subfamily: Geotrupinae
Length: 13-18 mm
Geotrupes splendidus is generally metallic green, but may also be blackish with a purple sheen. The pronotum is coarsely, very sparsely punctate, while on the elytra the striae are closely punctate.
Adults feed in dung or in fungus, and are often found walking on the forest floor. In West Virginia they are often spotted in the fall, after many other beetle species are no longer active.
The larvae of this species may be found feeding under leaf litter.
Insects of West Virginia
