Cabbage Moth vs Variable Dung Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cabbage Moth | Variable Dung Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mamestra brassicae | Onthophagus fracticornis |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Noctuidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | Wingspan 34-50mm | 5-9 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cabbage Moth
A mottled grey-brown moth with kidney-shaped and circular stigmata on the forewings. Its caterpillar is a serious pest of brassica crops worldwide.
Did You Know?
A single caterpillar can bore deep into a cabbage head contaminating it with frass and making it unmarketable.
Variable Dung Beetle
A small, highly variable tunneling dung beetle found across Europe. Coloration ranges from pale brown to nearly black with various mottled patterns. Males have a small bent horn, giving the species its name.
Did You Know?
The extreme color variation in this species once led taxonomists to describe multiple color forms as separate species.