Minotaur Beetle vs Red-bordered Metalmark
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Minotaur Beetle | Red-bordered Metalmark |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Typhaeus typhoeus | Caria ino |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Geotrupidae | Riodinidae |
| Size | 15-22 mm | 28-35 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Heathland | Heathland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Omnivores |
| Regions | Western Europe | South Texas through Mexico and Central America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Minotaur Beetle
A robust, black beetle where males sport three forward-pointing horns on the thorax. It buries rabbit dung in deep underground tunnels.
Did You Know?
Males dig tunnels up to 1.5 meters deep to provision underground brood chambers with dung.
Red-bordered Metalmark
A dark metalmark butterfly with bright red-orange borders along the wing edges and metallic blue-green scaling at the wing bases. It perches with wings spread flat.
Did You Know?
Males are fiercely territorial, perching on sunlit leaf surfaces and darting out at any passing insect.