Variable Cuckoo Bumble Bee vs Gigas Dung Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Variable Cuckoo Bumble Bee | Gigas Dung Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Bombus variabilis | Heliocopris gigas |
| Order | Hymenoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Apidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 15-22 mm | 35-55 mm |
| Habitat | Grasslands | Grasslands |
| Diet | Parasites | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Central and Eastern North America | West Africa, Central Africa |
| Conservation | Critically Endangered | Least Concern |
Variable Cuckoo Bumble Bee
A rare social parasite bumble bee that takes over colonies of other Bombus species in North America. Queens invade host nests, kill the resident queen, and enslave her workers.
Did You Know?
It produces no workers of its own and depends entirely on the labor of its host species to raise its offspring.
Gigas Dung Beetle
A massive glossy black tunneling dung beetle with powerful digging forelegs. Males have a broad cephalic horn. This species constructs elaborate underground chambers packed with dung for its larvae.
Did You Know?
The larval chamber is sealed with a clay cap that helps regulate moisture as the larva develops inside the brood ball.