Ant-Nest Hister Beetle vs Striped Dung Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Ant-Nest Hister Beetle | Striped Dung Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Hetaerius ferrugineus | Paragymnopleurus striatus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Histeridae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 1.5-2.5 mm | 10-16 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Farmland |
| Diet | Detritivores | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North America | Southeast Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Ant-Nest Hister Beetle
A tiny, reddish-brown hister beetle that lives exclusively inside ant nests. It is tolerated by its ant hosts and feeds on detritus and small arthropods.
Did You Know?
It produces appeasement chemicals from thoracic glands that prevent ants from attacking it inside the colony.
Striped Dung Beetle
A small to medium roller dung beetle with faint longitudinal striations on the elytra. It is black with a slightly convex profile and very active in daylight. Commonly found at fresh cattle dung across its range.
Did You Know?
This species can arrive at a fresh dung pat within seconds of it being deposited.