Black Sexton Beetle vs Woodland Dor Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Black Sexton Beetle Woodland Dor Beetle
Scientific Name Necrophorus vespilloides Anoplotrupes stercorosus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Silphidae Geotrupidae
Size 12-18 mm 12-19 mm
Habitat Underground Woodlands
Diet Carrion Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Europe, Asia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Black Sexton Beetle

A remarkable burying beetle that locates small animal carcasses using acute sense of smell. Pairs work together to bury the carcass as food for their larvae. Shows sophisticated biparental care.

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Did You Know?

Both parents feed their larvae mouth-to-mouth with pre-digested carrion, like birds feeding chicks.

Woodland Dor Beetle

A medium-sized, convex dung beetle with a steel-blue or black dorsal surface and metallic blue-violet underside. Common in European woodlands where it buries deer and fox dung. Often heard buzzing loudly in flight.

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Did You Know?

This beetle is often parasitized by phoretic mites that hitch rides to new dung sources.