Stellate Dung Beetle vs Tawny-edged Skipper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Stellate Dung Beetle Tawny-edged Skipper
Scientific Name Gymnopleurus humanus Polites themistocles
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Hesperiidae
Size 10-16 mm 20-27 mm wingspan
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Predators Nectar Feeders
Regions Sub-Saharan Africa Eastern and Central North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Stellate Dung Beetle

A medium-sized, glossy black roller found in African savannas. It has a nearly perfectly spherical body when viewed from the side. An extremely fast roller that can outpace many predators on flat terrain.

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Did You Know?

Its near-perfect spherical body shape is an adaptation that makes it difficult for predators to grasp.

Tawny-edged Skipper

A small brown skipper with a warm orange-tawny leading edge on the forewing. It is one of the most common grass skippers in eastern North America but is easily overlooked.

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Did You Know?

It is named after the ancient Athenian general Themistocles, following a tradition of naming skippers after classical figures.