Freyer's Purple Emperor vs Flat-Headed Dung Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Freyer's Purple Emperor | Flat-Headed Dung Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Apatura metis | Paragymnopleurus maurus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Nymphalidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 60-70 mm wingspan | 12-18 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, China | South Asia, Southeast Asia |
| Conservation | Least Concern (globally); rare and declining in Eu | Least Concern |
Freyer's Purple Emperor
A large, powerful butterfly closely related to the purple emperor but restricted to river valleys. Males display a brilliant purple-blue iridescence on the upper wing surface.
Did You Know?
Males patrol narrow sections of riverbank at high speed, chasing away all other large insects.
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.