Four-spotted Dung Beetle vs Noon Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Four-spotted Dung Beetle Noon Fly
Scientific Name Helictopleurus quadripunctatus Mesembrina meridiana
Order Coleoptera Diptera
Family Scarabaeidae Muscidae
Size 12-18 mm 10-13mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Dung Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Madagascar Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Four-spotted Dung Beetle

A medium-sized dung beetle with four distinctive pale spots on its dark elytra. It is one of the few Helictopleurus species that has adapted to open habitats alongside cattle.

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Did You Know?

It is one of only five Helictopleurus species that have successfully shifted from forest-dwelling lemur dung specialist to open-habitat cattle dung feeder.

Noon Fly

A large stocky black fly with bright orange wing bases. It basks in sunshine on walls and fences at midday.

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Did You Know?

Named for its habit of basking in the midday sun, often sitting motionless on warm surfaces around noon.