Balkan Pine Vole vs Common dung beetle

Microtus felteni compared with Aphodius pedellus

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Balkan Pine Vole	Common dung beetle
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum	Chordata (Chordates)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class	Mammalia (Mammals)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Rodentia (Rodents)	Coleoptera (Beetles)
Family	Cricetidae	Scarabaeidae
Genus	Microtus	Aphodius
Species	Microtus felteni	Aphodius pedellus

Evolutionary Relationship

Balkan Pine Vole and Common dung beetle share a common ancestor at the Kingdom level: Animalia. (Animals)

Conservation Status

Balkan Pine Vole

LC — Least Concern

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Balkan Pine Vole	Common dung beetle
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Balkan Pine Vole

Habitat

Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

Common dung beetle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

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

Balkan Pine Vole

The Balkan Pine Vole (Microtus felteni) is a species in the genus Microtus. It is currently classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List. Typically found in diverse terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

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.