Dark Soldier Beetle vs Proagoderus Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dark Soldier Beetle Proagoderus Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Cantharis obscura Proagoderus tersidorsis
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Cantharidae Scarabaeidae
Size 9-13 mm 10-18 mm
Habitat Meadows Grasslands
Diet Pollen Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Europe East Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dark Soldier Beetle

A dark-colored European soldier beetle often found on umbelliferous flowers. Its entirely dark elytra distinguish it from the more colorful soldier beetle species.

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Did You Know?

Larvae are velvety black and hunt small invertebrates among leaf litter throughout the winter months.

Proagoderus Dung Beetle

A medium-sized, dark metallic tunneling dung beetle with elaborate pronotal horns in major males. Found in African savannas, it is a rapid tunnel constructor. The complex horn morphology has made it a subject of evolutionary studies.

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Did You Know?

The ornate horns of this species have evolved through intense sexual selection by female choice and male-male combat.