Delta Dung Beetle vs West African Tiger Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Delta Dung Beetle West African Tiger Beetle
Scientific Name Deltochilum orbiculare Megacephala megacephala
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Cicindelidae
Size 15-25 mm 18-25 mm
Habitat Forests Rivers & Streams
Diet Dung Feeders Predators
Regions Central America, South America West Africa (Senegal, Guinea, Nigeria, Ghana)
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Delta Dung Beetle

A matte black roller dung beetle with a rounded body and distinctively flattened outer edges of the elytra. It rolls dung balls along the forest floor in tropical forests. The species shows strong nocturnal activity.

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Did You Know?

Unlike most rollers, some Deltochilum species have lost the ability to fly and are entirely ground-dwelling.

West African Tiger Beetle

A large, nocturnal tiger beetle with a broad head and powerful mandibles. The body is dark brown to black with subtle metallic reflections. It is a fast runner that hunts other insects on sandy ground at night.

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Did You Know?

Tiger beetles are among the fastest running insects, capable of sprinting so fast they temporarily go blind and must stop to re-orient.