Green Grooved Dung Beetle vs Black Burying Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Green Grooved Dung Beetle Black Burying Beetle
Scientific Name Phanaeus difformis Nicrophorus humator
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Silphidae
Size 11-18 mm 18-26mm
Habitat Forests Hedgerows
Diet Dung Feeders Carrion Feeders
Regions Southeastern North America Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Green Grooved Dung Beetle

A metallic green and copper tunneling dung beetle with a prominent male horn that is slightly offset to one side. The pronotum is smoothly convex and brilliantly iridescent. Found in southeastern North American forests.

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Did You Know?

The asymmetrical horn of the male is unique among North American Phanaeus species.

Black Burying Beetle

A large all-black burying beetle with orange-tipped antennae. It buries animal carcasses for its larvae.

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Did You Know?

One of the largest burying beetles in Europe and can inter a mouse-sized carcass in just a few hours.