Red-Shouldered Aphodius vs Rainbow Ground Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Red-Shouldered Aphodius | Rainbow Ground Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Aphodius rufipes | Carabus nitens |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Carabidae |
| Size | 10-13 mm | 14-18 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Heathland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Europe | Northern and Central Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Near Threatened |
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.
Rainbow Ground Beetle
A spectacularly colored ground beetle with elytra showing bands of metallic green, copper, and red, with three prominent raised ridges. It is associated with wet heathland habitats.
Did You Know?
Its brilliant rainbow coloring makes it one of the most beautiful European beetles, yet it is increasingly rare due to the drainage and destruction of its specialized heathland habitat.