Flat-Horned Dung Beetle vs Common Aleocharine
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Flat-Horned Dung Beetle | Common Aleocharine |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus planicornis | Atheta coriaria |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 7-12 mm | 3-4 mm |
| Habitat | Ponds & Lakes | Underground |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Sub-Saharan Africa | Holarctic, now distributed globally through commercial biocontrol |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Flat-Horned Dung Beetle
A small, dark tunneling dung beetle with laterally flattened horns in major males. Found in tropical Africa, it is a rapid responder to fresh dung. Females construct multiple brood balls in underground chambers.
Did You Know?
This species was among those exported to Australia as part of the CSIRO Dung Beetle Project.
Common Aleocharine
A tiny, dark brown aleocharine rove beetle now commercially sold as a biological control agent. It is an aggressive predator of fungus gnat larvae, thrips, and shore fly larvae in greenhouses.
Did You Know?
This beetle is sold commercially by biocontrol companies and released by the thousands in greenhouses to control fungus gnats organically.