Dichotomius Dung Beetle vs Beet Leafhopper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dichotomius Dung Beetle Beet Leafhopper
Scientific Name Dichotomius carolinus Circulifer tenellus
Order Coleoptera Hemiptera
Family Scarabaeidae Cicadellidae
Size 20-30 mm 3-3.5 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Dung Feeders Sap Feeders
Regions North America (southeastern United States), Central America Western North America, Mediterranean, Middle East
Conservation Least Concern Not Evaluated

Dichotomius Dung Beetle

A large, robust black tunneling dung beetle with a distinctive bifurcate (forked) horn in males. Females have a transverse ridge on the head instead. It is a nocturnal species that excavates deep tunnels under cattle dung.

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Did You Know?

The forked horn gives this genus its name, from the Greek dichotomous meaning divided in two.

Beet Leafhopper

A small pale green to tan leafhopper that transmits curly top virus to sugar beets, tomatoes, and beans. It breeds on desert weeds and migrates to cultivated crops.

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Did You Know?

Curly top virus transmitted by this leafhopper nearly destroyed the sugar beet industry in the western United States in the early 1900s.