Canary Islands Darkling Beetle vs Splendid Earth-boring Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Canary Islands Darkling Beetle Splendid Earth-boring Beetle
Scientific Name Pimelia laevigata Bolbocerosoma farctum
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Tenebrionidae Geotrupidae
Size 15-22 mm 8-14mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Deserts & Drylands
Diet Detritivores Fungus Feeders
Regions Canary Islands North America
Conservation Not Evaluated Least Concern

Canary Islands Darkling Beetle

A rounded, shiny black darkling beetle endemic to the Canary Islands. It is commonly seen walking across sandy and volcanic terrain.

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Did You Know?

Its smooth black exoskeleton helps it condense water from fog in the arid island climate.

Splendid Earth-boring Beetle

A stout rotund beetle with a polished amber-brown body. It digs deep burrows in sandy soil and is attracted to lights at night.

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Did You Know?

It helps propagate underground fungi by carrying fungal spores between burrows acting as a subterranean gardener.