Common dung beetle vs delicate germanderwort

Aphodius pedellus compared with Riccardia multifida

Key Differences

• Common dung beetle is Least Concern while delicate germanderwort is Endangered.

Taxonomic Classification

Rank	Common dung beetle	delicate germanderwort
Kingdom	Animalia (동물)	Plantae (식물)
Phylum	Arthropoda (절지동물)	Marchantiophyta (우산이끼문)
Class	Insecta (곤충)	Jungermanniopsida (망울이끼강)
Order	Coleoptera (딱정벌레목)	Metzgeriales (리본이끼목)
Family	Scarabaeidae	Aneuraceae
Genus	Aphodius	Riccardia
Species	Aphodius pedellus	Riccardia multifida

Conservation Status

Common dung beetle

LC — Least Concern

delicate germanderwort

EN — Endangered

Physical Characteristics

Attribute	Common dung beetle	delicate germanderwort
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.

delicate germanderwort

Habitat

Native to Asia and Europe and North America, inhabiting ecosystems characteristic of the region.

Range

Widely distributed across Asia (Taiwan), Europe (6 countries), North America (United States), and South America (Brazil). Currently classified as Endangered on the IUCN Red List, this species faces significant conservation challenges across its range.

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