Four-spotted Dung Beetle vs Pearly-banded Bee
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Four-spotted Dung Beetle | Pearly-banded Bee |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Helictopleurus quadripunctatus | Nomia melanderi |
| Order | Coleoptera | Hymenoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Halictidae |
| Size | 12-18 mm | 8-10 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Nectar Feeders |
| Regions | Madagascar | Western North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Four-spotted Dung Beetle
A medium-sized dung beetle with four distinctive pale spots on its dark elytra. It is one of the few Helictopleurus species that has adapted to open habitats alongside cattle.
Did You Know?
It is one of only five Helictopleurus species that have successfully shifted from forest-dwelling lemur dung specialist to open-habitat cattle dung feeder.
Pearly-banded Bee
A ground-nesting bee with pearly white abdominal bands vital for alfalfa pollination. Large nesting aggregations in alkaline soils can contain millions of individuals.
Did You Know?
Farmers in the Pacific Northwest actively manage nesting sites to boost alfalfa seed yields.