a Sand Martin flea vs Common dung beetle

Ceratophyllus styx compared with Aphodius pedellus

Key Differences

• a Sand Martin flea is Not Evaluated while Common dung beetle is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	a Sand Martin flea	Common dung beetle
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Siphonaptera (Siphonaptera)	Coleoptera (Beetles)
Family	Ceratophyllidae	Scarabaeidae
Genus	Ceratophyllus	Aphodius
Species	Ceratophyllus styx	Aphodius pedellus

Evolutionary Relationship

a Sand Martin flea and Common dung beetle share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

a Sand Martin flea

NE — Not Evaluated

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	a Sand Martin flea	Common dung beetle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

a Sand Martin flea

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Belgium, Denmark, Norway, and Sweden.

Common dung beetle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Distributed across Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and United States.

a Sand Martin flea

A sand martin flea (Ceratophyllus styx) is a species in the genus Ceratophyllus. Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Common dung beetle

<em>Aphodius pedellus</em>, a species of dung beetle in the family Scarabaeidae, is classified as Least Concern by the IUCN Red List, indicating a stable conservation outlook across its known range. The species has been documented in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United States, with its distribution spanning virtually all terrestrial and freshwater biome types. As a member of the Aphodiini tribe, <em>Aphodius pedellus</em> typically inhabits pastures, meadows, and woodland edges where mammalian dung is available, as dung beetles in this genus rely on feces as both a breeding medium and a food resource. These beetles play a critical role in nutrient cycling and soil aeration, breaking down organic waste and accelerating the return of nutrients to the soil. Their burrowing activity beneath dung pats enhances soil structure and improves water infiltration. <em>Aphodius pedellus</em> is part of a guild of coprophagous insects that collectively support healthy agricultural and natural ecosystems across temperate Europe and North America. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 3 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden