Lamarcks Sacred Scarab vs Somali Harvester Termite
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Lamarcks Sacred Scarab | Somali Harvester Termite |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Kheper lamarcki | Hodotermes sjoestedti |
| Order | Coleoptera | Blattodea |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Hodotermitidae |
| Size | 35-48 mm | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | East Africa, Southern Africa | Somalia, Ethiopia, Kenya |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Lamarcks Sacred Scarab
A large glossy black dung beetle with subtle purple and green iridescence. It constructs large brood balls from elephant dung and rolls them impressive distances. Females provision a single brood ball with great care for each offspring.
Did You Know?
A female may spend several days carefully shaping a single pear-shaped brood ball, coating it with a layer of soil for insulation.
Somali Harvester Termite
A harvester termite found in the dry grasslands and semi-deserts of the Horn of Africa. Like other hodotermitids, workers have pigmented eyes and forage on the surface. Colonies build deep subterranean nests to access water tables.
Did You Know?
Their nests can extend over 10 meters deep underground, reaching moisture levels necessary for colony survival in arid environments.