Dung Beetle vs Parasitic Bee Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Dung Beetle Parasitic Bee Fly
Scientific Name Scarabaeus sacer Winthemia rufopicta
Order Coleoptera Diptera
Family Scarabaeidae Tachinidae
Size 20-30 mm 6-9 mm
Habitat Farmland Farmland
Diet Dung Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Africa, Europe, Asia North America, Europe, Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Dung Beetle

Sacred to ancient Egyptians who associated them with the sun god Ra. They roll balls of dung for food and breeding. Navigate using the Milky Way.

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Did You Know?

Dung beetles are the only known animals to navigate using the Milky Way — they use the band of light to roll their dung balls in a straight line.

Parasitic Bee Fly

A medium-sized tachinid fly that parasitizes armyworm caterpillars and other crop pest larvae. It is found across multiple continents.

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Did You Know?

Females deposit multiple larvae on a single caterpillar but only one typically survives to maturity.