Giant Gymnopleurus vs Farmyard Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Giant Gymnopleurus | Farmyard Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Gymnopleurus virens | Culicoides nubeculosus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Ceratopogonidae |
| Size | 12-18 mm | 2 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Sub-Saharan Africa | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Giant Gymnopleurus
A medium-sized roller dung beetle with a coppery-green sheen and a nearly spherical body shape. It is a rapid roller, moving dung balls quickly across sun-baked grasslands. Diurnal and very heat-tolerant.
Did You Know?
Its round, compact body shape minimizes water loss in the hot, dry environments it inhabits.
Farmyard Midge
A tiny biting midge that breeds in mud contaminated by dung or sewage. Adults suck blood from horses and cattle. Can transmit bluetongue virus and African horse sickness.
Did You Know?
Despite being only 2mm long, it is the primary vector of bluetongue virus, a devastating livestock disease.