Chrysomelid Leaf Beetle vs Sicardi's Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Chrysomelid Leaf Beetle Sicardi's Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Chrysolina staphylaea Helictopleurus sicardi
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Scarabaeidae
Size 5-7 mm 8-13 mm
Habitat Farmland Forests
Diet Herbivores Dung Feeders
Regions Western Europe Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Chrysomelid Leaf Beetle

A small, strongly convex beetle with dark reddish-brown to almost black coloration and a smooth, shiny surface. It is one of the commonest Chrysolina species in Western Europe.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the first beetles to become active in late winter, sometimes emerging in February when temperatures are still quite cold.

Sicardi's Dung Beetle

A compact forest dung beetle with a glossy black body and strongly punctured elytra. Males have a small but distinct cephalic horn used in competitive encounters.

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Did You Know?

It is part of the ancient Helictopleurus radiation that diverged from continental African dung beetles over 30 million years ago.