Lily Beetle vs Red-Shouldered Aphodius
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lily Beetle | Red-Shouldered Aphodius |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Lilioceris lilii | Aphodius rufipes |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 6-8 mm | 10-13 mm |
| Habitat | Underground | Farmland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia; invasive in North America | Europe |
| Conservation | Not Evaluated | Least Concern |
Lily Beetle
A bright scarlet beetle that is a destructive pest of lilies and fritillaries. Larvae camouflage themselves by covering their bodies with their own excrement.
Did You Know?
When picked up, adults squeak by rubbing body parts together in a behavior called stridulation.
Red-Shouldered Aphodius
A medium-sized dweller dung beetle that is entirely black except for reddish-brown leg joints. It is strongly attracted to lights at night and is one of the larger European Aphodius species. Larvae develop inside cattle dung.
Did You Know?
On warm summer nights, large numbers can be seen flying to artificial lights near cattle pastures.