Sinuate-horned Dung Beetle vs Red Soldier Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Sinuate-horned Dung Beetle Red Soldier Beetle
Scientific Name Helictopleurus sinuatocornis Rhagonycha fulva
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Cantharidae
Size 12-17 mm 8-10 mm
Habitat Grasslands Underground
Diet Dung Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Madagascar Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Sinuate-horned Dung Beetle

A medium-sized dung beetle named for the sinuate or wavy shape of the male's cephalic horn. Its body is dark brown with a strongly convex pronotum.

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Did You Know?

Males with the most elaborately curved horns tend to win fights over dung balls, gaining access to mates.

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.