South American Dung Beetle vs Bot Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | South American Dung Beetle | Bot Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Oxysternon conspicillatum | Dermatobia hominis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Oestridae |
| Size | 15-25 mm | 12-18 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Parasites |
| Regions | Brazil, Colombia, Peru, Ecuador, Venezuela | Central America, South America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
South American Dung Beetle
A metallic green and copper dung beetle common in Amazonian forests. Males have a distinctive curved horn on the head.
Did You Know?
This species buries dung balls at remarkable speed, often out-competing rival beetles within minutes of a fresh dropping.
Bot Fly
Parasitic fly whose larvae develop under the skin of mammals including humans. Female captures a mosquito and glues eggs to it — when the mosquito bites, body heat triggers egg hatching.
Did You Know?
The human bot fly is so devious it hijacks mosquitoes — it catches them, glues eggs to their bodies, then the eggs hatch when the mosquito lands on warm skin.