Spanish Copris vs Snail-killing Fly Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Spanish Copris

A large shiny black dung beetle with a single curved horn on the males head. It constructs elaborate underground brood chambers beneath dung pats.

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Both parents cooperate to sculpt perfectly round dung balls in underground chambers and guard them until the larvae pupate.

A brown beetle with soft elytra where males are winged but females are larviform and never develop wings. It specializes in hunting snails.

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The larva enters a snails shell and slowly consumes it alive over several days before pupating inside the empty shell.