Appalachian Shield Lichen vs Common dung beetle

Parmelia neodiscordans compared with Aphodius pedellus

Key Differences

• Appalachian Shield Lichen is Not Evaluated while Common dung beetle is Least Concern.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Appalachian Shield Lichen	Common dung beetle
Kingdom	Fungi (Fungi)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Ascomycota (Sac Fungi)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Lecanoromycetes (Lecanoromycetes)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Lecanorales (Lecanorales)	Coleoptera (Beetles)
Family	Parmeliaceae	Scarabaeidae
Genus	Parmelia	Aphodius
Species	Parmelia neodiscordans	Aphodius pedellus

Conservation Status

Appalachian Shield Lichen

NE — Not Evaluated

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Appalachian Shield Lichen	Common dung beetle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Appalachian Shield Lichen

Habitat

Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Distributed across Norway and United States.

Common dung beetle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

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

Appalachian Shield Lichen

The Appalachian Shield Lichen (Parmelia neodiscordans) is a species in the genus Parmelia. Native to Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

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 2 countries:

🇳🇴 Norway 🇺🇸 United States