Common dung beetle vs Least Puffball

Aphodius pedellus compared with Bovista pusilla

Key Differences

• Common dung beetle is Least Concern while Least Puffball is Data Deficient.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common dung beetle	Least Puffball
Kingdom	Animalia (動物)	Fungi (菌界)
Phylum	Arthropoda (節足動物)	Basidiomycota (担子菌門)
Class	Insecta (昆虫)	Agaricomycetes (真正担子菌綱)
Order	Coleoptera (コウチュウ目)	Agaricales (ハラタケ目)
Family	Scarabaeidae	Lycoperdaceae
Genus	Aphodius	Bovista
Species	Aphodius pedellus	Bovista pusilla

Conservation Status

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

Least Puffball

DD — Data Deficient

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common dung beetle	Least Puffball
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.

Least Puffball

Habitat

Typically found in forest floors, decomposing wood, and soil ecosystems.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (4 countries), North America (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.

Shared Countries

Both species can be found in 4 countries:

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