Common Black Ground Beetle vs Striped Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Common Black Ground Beetle Striped Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Pterostichus melanarius Paragymnopleurus striatus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Carabidae Scarabaeidae
Size 12-18 mm 10-16 mm
Habitat Gardens Farmland
Diet Predators Dung Feeders
Regions Europe, Introduced to North America Southeast Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Common Black Ground Beetle

One of the most abundant ground beetles in European farmland and gardens. It is a generalist predator active mainly at night.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the most commonly caught beetles in pitfall traps across Europe.

Striped Dung Beetle

A small to medium roller dung beetle with faint longitudinal striations on the elytra. It is black with a slightly convex profile and very active in daylight. Commonly found at fresh cattle dung across its range.

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Did You Know?

This species can arrive at a fresh dung pat within seconds of it being deposited.