Silenus Oxysternon vs Kaup Bess Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Silenus Oxysternon | Kaup Bess Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oxysternon silenus | Passalus interstitialis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Passalidae |
| Size | 18-28 mm | 30-40 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Woodlands |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Wood Feeders |
| Regions | South America | Central America, Mexico |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Silenus Oxysternon
A large, robust dark green to black tunneling dung beetle with a broad thorax and powerful forelegs. Males bear a cephalic horn and pronotal ridges. An ecologically important species in Neotropical forest ecosystems.
Did You Know?
Studies show this beetle can bury over 90 percent of a dung pat within 48 hours in undisturbed forest.
Kaup Bess Beetle
A large, elongate, shiny black bess beetle with prominent mandibles and longitudinal grooves on the elytra. It is the most common Passalid in Central America. Colonies of adults and larvae inhabit decaying logs.
Did You Know?
Bess beetles are subsocial insects where parents and offspring live together and cooperate in maintaining their log galleries.