Cedar Beetle vs Giant Neotropical Ball Roller

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cedar Beetle Giant Neotropical Ball Roller
Scientific Name Sandalus niger Canthon aequinoctialis
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Rhipiceridae Scarabaeidae
Size 15-24 mm 10-16 mm
Habitat Woodlands Forests
Diet Parasitoids Dung Feeders
Regions North America Central America, South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cedar Beetle

A parasitoid beetle whose larvae feed on cicada nymphs underground.

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Did You Know?

Adults have no functional mouthparts and live only long enough to mate.

Giant Neotropical Ball Roller

A medium-sized, matte black roller dung beetle common in Central and South American forests. It is one of the most abundant forest-floor dung beetles in the Neotropics. Pairs cooperate to roll balls rapidly along forest trails.

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Did You Know?

During the rainy season, this beetle can be so abundant at a single dung pat that dozens compete for portions simultaneously.