Variable Dung Beetle vs Sonorensis Biting Midge
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Variable Dung Beetle | Sonorensis Biting Midge |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus fracticornis | Culicoides sonorensis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Ceratopogonidae |
| Size | 5-9 mm | 1-3 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Western Asia | North America, especially southwestern United States |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Variable Dung Beetle
A small, highly variable tunneling dung beetle found across Europe. Coloration ranges from pale brown to nearly black with various mottled patterns. Males have a small bent horn, giving the species its name.
Did You Know?
The extreme color variation in this species once led taxonomists to describe multiple color forms as separate species.
Sonorensis Biting Midge
A small biting midge that is the primary vector of bluetongue virus and epizootic hemorrhagic disease virus in North America. It breeds in muddy margins of dairy wastewater ponds and is most abundant in the southwestern United States. It is responsible for severe livestock disease outbreaks.
Did You Know?
Epizootic hemorrhagic disease transmitted by this midge kills thousands of white-tailed deer across North America annually.