Iris Flea Beetle vs Common Burying Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Iris Flea Beetle Common Burying Beetle
Scientific Name Aphthona nonstriata Nicrophorus vespillo
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Chrysomelidae Silphidae
Size 2-3 mm 12-22 mm
Habitat Wetlands Underground
Diet Root Feeders Carrion Feeders
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Iris Flea Beetle

A small blue-green flea beetle associated with yellow iris in wetland habitats. Larvae feed on iris roots underwater. A specialized member of the wetland beetle community.

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Did You Know?

Larvae can survive submerged among iris roots, extracting oxygen from the waterlogged plant tissue.

Common Burying Beetle

A large orange-and-black beetle that buries small animal carcasses for its larvae. Uses chemical cues to locate corpses from great distances. Shows remarkable parental care with both parents tending larvae.

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Did You Know?

Can bury a dead mouse completely underground in just a few hours by excavating soil from beneath the carcass.