Wide-Headed Dung Beetle vs Sachem Skipper

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Wide-Headed Dung Beetle Sachem Skipper
Scientific Name Onthophagus nigriventris Atalopedes campestris
Order Coleoptera Lepidoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Hesperiidae
Size 7-12 mm 25-36 mm wingspan
Habitat Grasslands Grasslands
Diet Dung Feeders Omnivores
Regions East Africa Throughout the United States, more common in the south
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Wide-Headed Dung Beetle

A small, greenish-bronze tunneling dung beetle from East Africa with a very wide head in major males. The broad head is used to block tunnel entrances against rivals. It is common in savanna grasslands.

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Did You Know?

Minor males, which lack the wide head, instead dig sneaky side tunnels to bypass the guarding major male.

Sachem Skipper

A small tawny-orange skipper with a distinctive large dark patch on the male's forewing. Females are darker with more mottled patterns.

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Did You Know?

It is one of the most abundant skippers on American lawns, thriving in mowed Bermuda grass.