Flat Bark Beetle vs Ivory-Spotted Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Flat Bark Beetle Ivory-Spotted Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Cucujus cinnaberinus Euoniticellus pallipes
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Cucujidae Scarabaeidae
Size 11-15 mm 5-8 mm
Habitat Forests Farmland
Diet Wood Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Europe Africa, introduced to Australia
Conservation Vulnerable Least Concern

Flat Bark Beetle

A bright red, extremely flat beetle that lives beneath the bark of dead trees. It is an indicator species of old-growth forests.

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Did You Know?

Its body is so flat it can fit into spaces less than 2mm thick between bark layers.

Ivory-Spotted Dung Beetle

A small, pale brown tunneling dung beetle with ivory-colored legs. Native to Africa, it has been introduced to several countries as a biological control agent. It is especially efficient in warm, dry climates.

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Did You Know?

This tiny beetle can compete with much larger species by arriving first and tunneling quickly beneath fresh dung.