Violet Dung Beetle vs Hairy Sexton Rove Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Violet Dung Beetle | Hairy Sexton Rove Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oniticellus planatus | Velleius dilatatus |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Staphylinidae |
| Size | 7-11 mm | 15-24 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Woodlands |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Predators |
| Regions | Sub-Saharan Africa | Europe |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Violet Dung Beetle
A small, distinctive dung beetle with a flattened body and yellowish elytra marked with dark spots. Despite being in the tunneler group, it shows some dweller-like behavior. Commonly found at cattle dung in African grasslands.
Did You Know?
This species makes its brood balls inside the dung pat itself rather than in tunnels, blurring the line between tunneler and dweller strategies.
Hairy Sexton Rove Beetle
A large, broad rove beetle with flattened expanded elytra, uniquely associated with European hornet nests. It is one of the few rove beetles that lives as an inquiline in social wasp colonies.
Did You Know?
This beetle has evolved tolerance to hornet stings and can live unharmed in active hornet nests that would be lethal to most other insects.