Spanish Copris vs Red-Shouldered Aphodius

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Spanish Copris Red-Shouldered Aphodius
Scientific Name Copris hispanus Aphodius rufipes
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Scarabaeidae
Size 18-27mm 10-13 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Dung Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Europe Europe
Conservation Near Threatened Least Concern

Spanish Copris

A large shiny black dung beetle with a single curved horn on the males head. It constructs elaborate underground brood chambers beneath dung pats.

💡

Did You Know?

Both parents cooperate to sculpt perfectly round dung balls in underground chambers and guard them until the larvae pupate.

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.