Horned Dung Beetle vs Velebit Cave Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Horned Dung Beetle | Velebit Cave Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus taurus | Hadesia vasiceki |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Leiodidae |
| Size | 8-11 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Caves |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Europe, Asia, North America (introduced) | Bosnia and Herzegovina |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Data Deficient |
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.
Velebit Cave Beetle
A blind, reddish-brown cave beetle from deep caves in the Dinaric Alps. It has a narrow elongated body adapted for moving through tight rock crevices.
Did You Know?
The genus Hadesia contains some of the most extreme cave-adapted beetles in the world.