Creek Pacer Ground Beetle vs Dung Roller Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Creek Pacer Ground Beetle Dung Roller Beetle
Scientific Name Chlaenius tricolor Kheper nigroaeneus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Carabidae Scarabaeidae
Size 10-14 mm 25-40 mm
Habitat Rivers & Streams Grasslands
Diet Predators Dung Feeders
Regions North America, from Canada to the southern United States Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Creek Pacer Ground Beetle

A handsome ground beetle with bright metallic green elytra, a bluish pronotum, and reddish-brown legs. It is commonly found near streams and rivers across North America.

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Did You Know?

Like other Chlaenius species, it produces a strong, distinctive odor from defensive glands that some collectors describe as smelling like leather or wet dog.

Dung Roller Beetle

A large dung beetle that navigates using the Milky Way to roll balls in straight lines.

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Did You Know?

It was the first animal proven to use the Milky Way for orientation.