African Soldier Beetle vs Green Grooved Dung Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | African Soldier Beetle | Green Grooved Dung Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Cantharis africana | Phanaeus difformis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Cantharidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 8-12 mm | 11-18 mm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Forests |
| Diet | Predators | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Africa, Eastern Africa, Southern Africa | Southeastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
African Soldier Beetle
A soft-bodied soldier beetle from Sub-Saharan Africa with orange-brown elytra and a darker head region. Like other cantharids, it has flexible elytra and is an active predator of small insects on flowers.
Did You Know?
Soldier beetles are important pollinators in their own right, transferring pollen between flowers as they hunt for prey.
Green Grooved Dung Beetle
A metallic green and copper tunneling dung beetle with a prominent male horn that is slightly offset to one side. The pronotum is smoothly convex and brilliantly iridescent. Found in southeastern North American forests.
Did You Know?
The asymmetrical horn of the male is unique among North American Phanaeus species.