Flat-Headed Dung Beetle vs Polar Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Flat-Headed Dung Beetle | Polar Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Paragymnopleurus maurus | Atheta graminicola |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 12-18 mm | 2-4 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Heathland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | South Asia, Southeast Asia | Scandinavia, Finland, northern Russia, Iceland, subarctic Canada |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Flat-Headed Dung Beetle
A medium-sized shiny black roller dung beetle with a distinctively flat clypeal margin. It is highly active during the day and rolls dung balls rapidly across open terrain. Common in tropical Asian habitats near cattle.
Did You Know?
When the ground becomes too hot, this beetle climbs on top of its dung ball to cool its feet before continuing to roll.
Polar Rove Beetle
A tiny, elongate rove beetle with short wing covers and a flexible abdomen. It is dark brown to black and very agile. It lives among decaying vegetation and is a predator of mites and other small arthropods.
Did You Know?
Rove beetles like this species can raise their abdomens like scorpions to deter predators, though they have no stinger.