Broad-shouldered Diving Beetle vs Digitonthophagus Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Broad-shouldered Diving Beetle Digitonthophagus Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Dytiscus latissimus Digitonthophagus gazella
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Dytiscidae Scarabaeidae
Size 36-44 mm 7-14 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Farmland
Diet Omnivores Dung Feeders
Regions Northern Europe, Scandinavia Africa, introduced globally to tropical regions
Conservation Vulnerable Least Concern

Broad-shouldered Diving Beetle

The largest European diving beetle and one of the largest aquatic beetles in the world. It inhabits clean, fish-poor lakes and is increasingly rare.

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Did You Know?

It is protected under the EU Habitats Directive and is one of the most endangered beetles in Europe.

Digitonthophagus Dung Beetle

A small to medium, tan to brown tunneling dung beetle originally from Africa, now among the most widely distributed dung beetles globally. Males have two short conical horns. It is an extremely efficient cattle dung processor.

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Did You Know?

This species has been introduced to more countries than any other dung beetle and is now found on every inhabited continent.