Horned Dung Beetle vs Ross's Web Spinner
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Horned Dung Beetle | Ross's Web Spinner |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus taurus | Chelicerca rubra |
| Order | Coleoptera | Embioptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Chelicercidae |
| Size | 8-11 mm | 8.0-12.0 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America (introduced) | Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Not Evaluated |
Horned Dung Beetle
The strongest insect on Earth relative to body size — can pull 1,141 times its own body weight. Males have curved horns used in underground tunnel combat for mating rights.
Did You Know?
This beetle can pull 1,141 times its body weight — equivalent to a human pulling six double-decker buses. Its strength evolved from intense male-male combat in dung tunnels.
Ross's Web Spinner
A reddish-brown web spinner found in tropical Africa that builds silk tunnels on tree bark. It is one of the more brightly colored embiopterans.
Did You Know?
The reddish coloration of this web spinner is unusual in the order, as most species are drab brown or black.