Vacca Dung Beetle vs European Hangingfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Vacca Dung Beetle | European Hangingfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus vacca | Bittacus italicus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Mecoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Bittacidae |
| Size | 6-12 mm | 18-25 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Vacca Dung Beetle
A small coppery-green to bronze tunneler with a broad head and short horns in males. It is a common pasture dung beetle across Europe. The metallic sheen distinguishes it from many congeners.
Did You Know?
Males with longer horns guard tunnel entrances while hornless males sneak through side tunnels to mate.
European Hangingfly
A delicate predatory insect with long legs that hangs from grass stems and snatches prey with its prehensile hind tarsi. Found in Mediterranean grasslands.
Did You Know?
The prehensile hind tarsi of hangingflies can close like a jackknife, trapping prey in a fraction of a second.