Forest Roller vs Common Water Penny
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Forest Roller | Common Water Penny |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Canthon quinquemaculatus | Psephenus herricki |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Psephenidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 4-6 mm (adults); 6-10 mm (larvae) |
| Habitat | Forests | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | South America | Eastern North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Forest Roller
A small, dark roller dung beetle with five pale spots on the elytra. Found in South American forests, it is diurnal and actively rolls small dung balls along forest trails. The spotted pattern provides camouflage on the leaf-littered forest floor.
Did You Know?
The five distinctive pale spots on the wing cases help researchers quickly identify this species in field surveys.
Common Water Penny
A small aquatic beetle whose larvae are flattened and round like a copper penny, clinging to rocks in fast streams. Adults are terrestrial and short-lived.
Did You Know?
Larvae are so flat they can cling to rocks in torrential currents that would wash away most other insects.