Flat-Headed Dung Beetle vs American Cuckoo Wasp
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Flat-Headed Dung Beetle | American Cuckoo Wasp |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Paragymnopleurus maurus | Chrysis angolensis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Chrysididae |
| Size | 12-18 mm | 7-12 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Parasites |
| Regions | South Asia, Southeast Asia | Sub-Saharan Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Flat-Headed Dung Beetle
A medium-sized shiny black roller dung beetle with a distinctively flat clypeal margin. It is highly active during the day and rolls dung balls rapidly across open terrain. Common in tropical Asian habitats near cattle.
Did You Know?
When the ground becomes too hot, this beetle climbs on top of its dung ball to cool its feet before continuing to roll.
American Cuckoo Wasp
A metallic green and blue cuckoo wasp found across sub-Saharan Africa. It parasitizes mud-nesting wasps and bees on rocky outcrops and buildings.
Did You Know?
Despite its species name referencing Angola, it is found throughout most of tropical and southern Africa.