Tanbark Borer vs Flightless Dung Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tanbark Borer | Flightless Dung Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Phymatodes testaceus | Circellium bacchus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Cerambycidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 8-17 mm | 35-47 mm |
| Habitat | Woodlands | Hedgerows |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, North Africa, introduced to North America | South Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Vulnerable |
Tanbark Borer
A small, highly variable cerambycid ranging from pale yellow to dark brown or violet. It breeds under the bark of recently dead oaks across Europe and North America. Adults are nocturnal and come freely to lights.
Did You Know?
Color variation in this species is so extreme that over a dozen color forms have been named, all belonging to one species.
Flightless Dung Beetle
The largest flightless dung beetle in the world, endemic to South Africa. It is now restricted to a few remaining habitat patches in the Eastern Cape.
Did You Know?
It is the only species in its genus and relies entirely on walking to find dung.