Viceroy Butterfly vs Striped Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Viceroy Butterfly Striped Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Limenitis archippus Paragymnopleurus striatus
Order Lepidoptera Coleoptera
Family Nymphalidae Scarabaeidae
Size 53-81 mm wingspan 10-16 mm
Habitat Ponds & Lakes Farmland
Diet Dung Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions North America Southeast Asia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Viceroy Butterfly

Orange and black wings resembling the Monarch but with a black postmedian line across the hindwings. Once thought to be a harmless mimic, it is actually unpalatable too.

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Did You Know?

It is a Mullerian co-mimic with the Monarch, as both species are distasteful to predators.

Striped Dung Beetle

A small to medium roller dung beetle with faint longitudinal striations on the elytra. It is black with a slightly convex profile and very active in daylight. Commonly found at fresh cattle dung across its range.

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Did You Know?

This species can arrive at a fresh dung pat within seconds of it being deposited.