South American Velvet Ant vs Wide-Headed Dung Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | South American Velvet Ant | Wide-Headed Dung Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Traumatomutilla indica | Onthophagus nigriventris |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Mutillidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 15-22 mm | 7-12 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Omnivores | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | South America | East Africa |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
South American Velvet Ant
A large tropical velvet ant with striking black and orange patterns. Despite its species name, it is native to South America and not India.
Did You Know?
Its species name 'indica' was assigned in error and does not reflect its true South American distribution.
Wide-Headed Dung Beetle
A small, greenish-bronze tunneling dung beetle from East Africa with a very wide head in major males. The broad head is used to block tunnel entrances against rivals. It is common in savanna grasslands.
Did You Know?
Minor males, which lack the wide head, instead dig sneaky side tunnels to bypass the guarding major male.