Digitonthophagus Dung Beetle vs Japanese Ground Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Digitonthophagus Dung Beetle Japanese Ground Beetle
Scientific Name Digitonthophagus gazella Carabus insulicola
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Carabidae
Size 7-14 mm 22-30 mm
Habitat Farmland Forests
Diet Dung Feeders Omnivores
Regions Africa, introduced globally to tropical regions Japan
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Digitonthophagus Dung Beetle

A small to medium, tan to brown tunneling dung beetle originally from Africa, now among the most widely distributed dung beetles globally. Males have two short conical horns. It is an extremely efficient cattle dung processor.

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Did You Know?

This species has been introduced to more countries than any other dung beetle and is now found on every inhabited continent.

Japanese Ground Beetle

A large, dark beetle with coppery-bronze elytra found in Japanese mountain forests. It is flightless and shows considerable variation between island populations.

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Did You Know?

Isolated populations on different Japanese islands have diverged into distinct colour forms, making them popular among collectors.