Red Soldier Beetle vs Dung Beetle Navigator

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Red Soldier Beetle Dung Beetle Navigator
Scientific Name Rhagonycha fulva Scarabaeus lamarcki
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Cantharidae Scarabaeidae
Size 8-10 mm 20-30 mm
Habitat Underground Grasslands
Diet Nectar Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Europe Southern Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Red Soldier Beetle

A very common soldier beetle in Europe with orange-red elytra tipped in black. It is one of the most familiar beetles on hogweed and other umbellifer flowers.

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Did You Know?

In the UK it is commonly known as the bloodsucker beetle, though it is completely harmless to humans.

Dung Beetle Navigator

A medium-sized dung beetle from South Africa that navigates using celestial cues. It has been a key species in understanding insect navigation.

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Did You Know?

It is the first animal proven to use the Milky Way as a navigational aid for orientation.