Malagasy Dung Beetle vs Freyer's Purple Emperor
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Malagasy Dung Beetle | Freyer's Purple Emperor |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Helictopleurus neoamplicollis | Apatura metis |
| Order | Coleoptera | Lepidoptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Nymphalidae |
| Size | 10-16 mm | 60-70 mm wingspan |
| Habitat | Forests | Rivers & Streams |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Madagascar | Southeastern Europe, Central Asia, China |
| Conservation | Vulnerable | Least Concern (globally); rare and declining in Eu |
Malagasy Dung Beetle
A medium-sized, dark-bodied tunneling dung beetle endemic to Madagascar. Males have pronotal ridges. It processes lemur and tenrec dung in the island's unique forests. Threatened by deforestation of Madagascar's remaining forests.
Did You Know?
The dung beetles of Madagascar evolved in isolation and many species are found nowhere else on Earth.
Freyer's Purple Emperor
A large, powerful butterfly closely related to the purple emperor but restricted to river valleys. Males display a brilliant purple-blue iridescence on the upper wing surface.
Did You Know?
Males patrol narrow sections of riverbank at high speed, chasing away all other large insects.