Common dung beetle vs Common filbert

Aphodius pedellus compared with Corylus avellana

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common dung beetle	Common filbert
Kingdom	Animalia (Animals)	Plantae (Plants)
Phylum	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Magnoliophyta (Flowering Plants)
Class	Insecta (Insects)	Magnoliopsida (Dicots)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Fagales (Beeches & Oaks)
Family	Scarabaeidae	Betulaceae
Genus	Aphodius	Corylus
Species	Aphodius pedellus	Corylus avellana

Conservation Status

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

Common filbert

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common dung beetle	Common filbert
Diet	—	—
Average Lifespan	—	—
Average Length	—	—
Average Weight	—	—

Habitat & Geographic Range

Common dung beetle

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

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

Common filbert

Habitat

Inhabits Mediterranean forests and woodlands within the Palearctic biogeographic realm.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Cyprus, Iraq), Europe (7 countries), North America (Canada, United States), and South America (Brazil).

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.

Common filbert

<em>Corylus avellana</em> is a deciduous shrub or small tree in the family Betulaceae, order Fagales, commonly known as the common hazel or common filbert. The species is classified as Least Concern on the IUCN Red List, with widespread and stable populations across its native and introduced range. <em>Corylus avellana</em> is native to Europe and western Asia and has been introduced to parts of North America and South America. It is particularly associated with temperate deciduous woodlands, hedgerows, and scrubland across the Mediterranean forests and the Palearctic realm. The species typically forms a multi-stemmed shrub with broad, rounded leaves and catkins that emerge in late winter before the leaves appear, representing one of the earliest flowering events of the temperate year. Hazel nuts produced by this species are an important food source for woodland wildlife including squirrels, dormice, and woodpeckers. The species has been cultivated for centuries for nut production and coppicing. Biological traits of this species remain poorly documented in the scientific literature.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

🇩🇰 Denmark 🇳🇴 Norway 🇸🇪 Sweden 🇺🇸 United States