Common Pollen Beetle vs Four-Spotted Carrion Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Common Pollen Beetle | Four-Spotted Carrion Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Brassicogethes aeneus | Dendroxena quadrimaculata |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Nitidulidae | Silphidae |
| Size | 2-3 mm | 12-16 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Grasslands |
| Diet | Pollen Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America | Europe, Western Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Common Pollen Beetle
A tiny iridescent green-black beetle that congregates in yellow flowers to feed on pollen. It is a major pest of oilseed rape crops.
Did You Know?
On warm days they can be so numerous on yellow flowers that a single buttercup may contain a dozen individuals.
Four-Spotted Carrion Beetle
A yellowish-brown beetle with four dark spots on its elytra, unusual for a silphid because it hunts in trees rather than on the ground. It climbs trunks searching for caterpillars.
Did You Know?
It is one of the only carrion beetles that has abandoned carrion feeding entirely, becoming an arboreal caterpillar predator.