Four-spotted Dung Beetle vs Red and Black Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Four-spotted Dung Beetle | Red and Black Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Helictopleurus quadripunctatus | Paederus riparius |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 12-18 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Madagascar | Europe, Asia, Africa |
| 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.
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.
Red and Black Rove Beetle
A small but notorious rove beetle with a red thorax and abdomen and blue-black elytra. Its hemolymph contains pederin, a potent blistering toxin.
Did You Know?
Crushing this beetle on skin causes painful blistering dermatitis known as Paederus dermatitis.