Femoralis Dung Beetle vs Yellow-Winged Darter Rove Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Femoralis Dung Beetle Yellow-Winged Darter Rove Beetle
Scientific Name Pachylomerus femoralis Philonthus cognatus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Staphylinidae
Size 40-60 mm 10-14 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Dung Feeders Omnivores
Regions Southern Africa, East Africa Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Femoralis Dung Beetle

The largest African roller dung beetle, with a stout black body and massively thickened hind femora. It can roll dung balls several times its own weight across rough terrain. The enlarged legs give it exceptional leverage for ball rolling.

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Did You Know?

Its hind femora are so thick and muscular that early entomologists initially thought the species was deformed.

Yellow-Winged Darter Rove Beetle

A medium-sized, metallic-black rove beetle with brownish wing tips. It is one of the most common staphylinids in European grasslands.

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Did You Know?

Over 1,000 species belong to the genus Philonthus, making it one of the most species-rich beetle genera on Earth.