Cottonwood Leaf Beetle vs Two-Horned Oxysternon
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Cottonwood Leaf Beetle | Two-Horned Oxysternon |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Chrysomela scripta | Oxysternon durum |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Chrysomelidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 6-9 mm | 20-28 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | North America | South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Cottonwood Leaf Beetle
A variable beetle with pale yellow elytra marked with dark elongated spots and streaks. It is a common defoliator of cottonwood, poplar, and willow trees across North America.
Did You Know?
Larvae release volatile salicylaldehyde from glands on their thorax and abdomen, producing a distinctive medicinal smell that repels ants.
Two-Horned Oxysternon
A large, dark metallic green tunneling dung beetle with two prominent pronotal projections in males. The clypeus has a distinctive upturned anterior margin. It is a powerful tunneler in Amazonian rainforests.
Did You Know?
This beetle is so efficient at burying dung that it plays a measurable role in reducing livestock parasite transmission.