Golden Sun Moth vs Elephant Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Golden Sun Moth Elephant Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Synemon plana Heliocopris dilloni
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Castniidae Scarabaeidae
Size 3-4 cm wingspan 35-55 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Root Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Australia East Africa, Southern Africa
Conservation Critically Endangered Least Concern

Golden Sun Moth

A day-flying moth with dull grey-brown forewings and brilliant orange-gold hindwings. It is critically threatened by the loss of native grasslands.

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Did You Know?

Larvae live underground feeding on grass roots for up to three years before emerging as adults that live only days.

Elephant Dung Beetle

A very large black dung beetle that specializes in elephant dung. Males have a prominent curved horn on the thorax.

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Did You Know?

A single elephant dropping can attract over 4,000 dung beetles within 15 minutes of being deposited.