Black Caterpillar Hunter vs Golden Dung Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Caterpillar Hunter | Golden Dung Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Calosoma sayi | Scathophaga stercoraria |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Carabidae | Scathophagidae |
| Size | 20-28 mm | 7-10 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Farmland |
| Diet | Predators | Predators |
| Regions | Central and western North America | Europe, Asia, North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Black Caterpillar Hunter
A large, entirely black caterpillar hunter beetle native to North American prairies and grasslands. It is a powerful runner that hunts caterpillars, especially cutworms, at night.
Did You Know?
Pioneer farmers on the Great Plains observed massive aggregations of this beetle appearing after rain to hunt cutworm outbreaks and called them rain beetles or thunderbugs.
Golden Dung Fly
A common furry yellow fly that gathers on fresh cow dung to mate and hunt.
Did You Know?
Males are fiercely competitive and wrestle each other for access to females on dung pats.