Common dung beetle vs Three-tailed swallowtail

Aphodius pedellus compared with Papilio multicaudata

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common dung beetle	Three-tailed swallowtail
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	Papilionidae
Genus	Aphodius	Papilio
Species	Aphodius pedellus	Papilio multicaudata

Evolutionary Relationship

Common dung beetle and Three-tailed swallowtail share a common ancestor at the Class level: Insecta. (Insects)

Conservation Status

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

Three-tailed swallowtail

LC — Least Concern

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common dung beetle	Three-tailed swallowtail
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.

Three-tailed swallowtail

Habitat

Typically found in virtually all terrestrial and freshwater habitats.

Range

Found in Canada.

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.