Cicatricosus Scarab vs South American Darkling Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Cicatricosus Scarab South American Darkling Beetle
Scientific Name Scarabaeus cicatricosus Zophobas morio
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Tenebrionidae
Size 18-25 mm 18-25 mm
Habitat Farmland Woodlands
Diet Dung Feeders Fruit Feeders
Regions Iberian Peninsula, North Africa Brazil, Central America, northern South America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Cicatricosus Scarab

A medium-sized dark roller with a rough, pitted exoskeleton that gives it a scarred appearance. It inhabits coastal sandy areas and constructs dung balls from rabbit and livestock dung. Active primarily at dusk.

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Did You Know?

The rough texture of its exoskeleton helps it grip sand as it rolls dung balls across dune habitats.

South American Darkling Beetle

A large shiny black darkling beetle widely distributed across tropical South America. Its larvae, known as superworms, are commonly used as animal feed.

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Did You Know?

Its larvae can digest polystyrene plastic thanks to gut bacteria, making them subjects of biodegradation research.