Shiny Lined Rove Beetle vs Femoralis Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Shiny Lined Rove Beetle Femoralis Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Xantholinus longiventris Pachylomerus femoralis
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Staphylinidae Scarabaeidae
Size 6-8 mm 40-60 mm
Habitat Underground Grasslands
Diet Predators Dung Feeders
Regions Europe, Western Asia, introduced to North America Southern Africa, East Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Shiny Lined Rove Beetle

A distinctively elongate rove beetle with a shiny black head and pronotum, and reddish-brown elytra. It hunts in narrow spaces and is commonly found in synanthropic habitats.

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Did You Know?

The disproportionately large mandibles of this beetle, relative to its narrow head, allow it to subdue prey in tight spaces where it has a significant advantage.

Femoralis Dung Beetle

The largest African roller dung beetle, with a stout black body and massively thickened hind femora. It can roll dung balls several times its own weight across rough terrain. The enlarged legs give it exceptional leverage for ball rolling.

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Did You Know?

Its hind femora are so thick and muscular that early entomologists initially thought the species was deformed.