Black Forest Ground Beetle vs Watanabe Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Black Forest Ground Beetle Watanabe Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Pterostichus niger Onthophagus watanabei
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Carabidae Scarabaeidae
Size 16–24 mm 6-10 mm
Habitat Woodlands Forests
Diet Omnivores Dung Feeders
Regions Europe, Northern Asia Southeast Asia (Borneo, Sumatra)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Black Forest Ground Beetle

A large jet-black ground beetle common in European forests and damp woodlands. It is one of the largest Pterostichus species in its range.

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Did You Know?

Despite being flightless, it can cover surprisingly large distances on foot during its nightly foraging walks.

Watanabe Dung Beetle

A small, brown tunneling dung beetle from Southeast Asian forests with distinctively elongated curved horns in major males. It is a forest-interior species sensitive to habitat disturbance. Found beneath dung of wild mammals.

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Did You Know?

This species disappears from logged forests, making it an indicator of old-growth forest health.