Two-Spotted Dung Beetle vs African Emperor Moth

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Two-Spotted Dung Beetle African Emperor Moth
Scientific Name Onthophagus nuchicornis Bunaea caffraria
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Saturniidae
Size 6-9 mm 80-120 mm
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Dung Feeders Omnivores
Regions Europe, Asia, introduced to North America Southern and East Africa
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Two-Spotted Dung Beetle

A small, mottled brown and yellow tunneling dung beetle with two dark spots on the pronotum. Males have a single backward-pointing horn on the nape. It is one of the most common dung beetles in European pastures.

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Did You Know?

This species was accidentally introduced to North America and is now one of the most common dung beetles on the continent.

African Emperor Moth

A large African saturniid with warm brown wings bearing conspicuous eyespots edged in pink and black. Its massive spiny caterpillars are a common sight on savanna trees.

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Did You Know?

The caterpillars of Bunaea caffraria are gregarious when young, forming dense clusters on branches that can completely strip small trees of foliage.