Common dung beetle vs Silver Meadow

Aphodius pedellus compared with Boloria selene

Key Differences

• Common dung beetle is Least Concern while Silver Meadow is Extinct.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common dung beetle	Silver Meadow
Kingdom same	Animalia (Animals)	Animalia (Animals)
Phylum same	Arthropoda (Arthropods)	Arthropoda (Arthropods)
Class same	Insecta (Insects)	Insecta (Insects)
Order	Coleoptera (Beetles)	Lepidoptera (Butterflies & Moths)
Family	Scarabaeidae	Nymphalidae (Brush-footed Butterflies)
Genus	Aphodius	Boloria
Species	Aphodius pedellus	Boloria selene

Evolutionary Relationship

Common dung beetle and Silver Meadow share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

Silver Meadow

EX — Extinct

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common dung beetle	Silver Meadow
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.

Silver Meadow

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found across Europe (34 countries) and North America (United States).

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.

Silver Meadow

Silver Meadow (Boloria selene) is classified as Extinct (EX) on the IUCN Red List. This species has been declared extinct, with no known living individuals remaining in the wild or in captivity.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 5 countries:

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