Giant Neotropical Ball Roller vs Carmelae's Thorny Stick Insect

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Giant Neotropical Ball Roller Carmelae's Thorny Stick Insect
Scientific Name Canthon aequinoctialis Trachyaretaon carmelae
Order Coleoptera Phasmatodea
Family Scarabaeidae Heteropterygidae
Size 10-16 mm 9-13.5 cm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Dung Feeders Herbivores
Regions Central America, South America Philippines
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Giant Neotropical Ball Roller

A medium-sized, matte black roller dung beetle common in Central and South American forests. It is one of the most abundant forest-floor dung beetles in the Neotropics. Pairs cooperate to roll balls rapidly along forest trails.

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Did You Know?

During the rainy season, this beetle can be so abundant at a single dung pat that dozens compete for portions simultaneously.

Carmelae's Thorny Stick Insect

A robust, thorny stick insect from the Philippines reaching up to 13.5 cm. It has rough, bark-like texture on its body surface.

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Did You Know?

Its heavily textured body makes it look exactly like a piece of rough bark when motionless.