Atlas Scarab vs Clock Ground Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Atlas Scarab Clock Ground Beetle
Scientific Name Scarabaeus atlas Amara aenea
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Carabidae
Size 20-30 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Deserts & Drylands Tundra & Arctic
Diet Dung Feeders Seed Feeders
Regions North Africa, Middle East Europe, Asia, Introduced to North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Atlas Scarab

A large, matte black roller dung beetle with a broad, shield-like head. It is closely related to the sacred scarab and inhabits arid regions. Powerful forelegs enable it to fashion and roll large dung balls.

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Did You Know?

In extremely hot conditions, this beetle performs thermal dance behavior, climbing onto its dung ball to cool its body.

Clock Ground Beetle

A small, bronze-colored ground beetle extremely common across the Palearctic region. It is a mixed feeder consuming both seeds and small invertebrates.

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Did You Know?

Its common name comes from the old English practice of placing beetles on a clock face to tell fortunes.