Dichotomius Dung Beetle vs Black Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dichotomius Dung Beetle Black Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Dichotomius carolinus Copris lunaris
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Scarabaeidae
Size 20-30 mm 15-22 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Dung Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions North America (southeastern United States), Central America Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

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.

Black Dung Beetle

A robust black dung beetle found across Europe and parts of Asia. Males bear a single curved horn on the head and exhibit biparental brood care.

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Did You Know?

Both parents cooperate to provision and guard the brood chamber, which is unusual among beetles.