Dingy Skipper vs Elephant Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dingy Skipper Elephant Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Erynnis tages Heliocopris dilloni
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Hesperiidae Scarabaeidae
Size 27-34 mm wingspan 35-55 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Omnivores Dung Feeders
Regions Europe, temperate Asia East Africa, Southern Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dingy Skipper

A small, moth-like butterfly with mottled grey-brown wings that rests with wings spread flat. It is easily overlooked due to its drab colouration.

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Did You Know?

On cool days it basks with wings open like a moth rather than holding them upright like most butterflies.

Elephant Dung Beetle

A very large black dung beetle that specializes in elephant dung. Males have a prominent curved horn on the thorax.

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Did You Know?

A single elephant dropping can attract over 4,000 dung beetles within 15 minutes of being deposited.