Tawny-edged Skipper vs Alpine Dung Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Tawny-edged Skipper | Alpine Dung Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Polites themistocles | Geotrupes alpinus |
| Order | Lepidoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Hesperiidae | Geotrupidae |
| Size | 20-27 mm wingspan | 12-18 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Nectar Feeders | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Eastern and Central North America | Alps, Pyrenees, Carpathians |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Did You Know?
It is named after the ancient Athenian general Themistocles, following a tradition of naming skippers after classical figures.
Alpine Dung Beetle
A sturdy, dark dung beetle of high-altitude pastures grazed by livestock. It buries dung underground where its larvae develop.
Did You Know?
A single pair can bury a dung ball several times their own body weight in one night.