Asian Giant Hornet vs Green Grooved Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Asian Giant Hornet Green Grooved Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Vespa mandarinia Phanaeus difformis
Order Hymenoptera Coleoptera
Family Vespidae Scarabaeidae
Size 45-55 mm 11-18 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Blood Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Asia Southeastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Asian Giant Hornet

The worlds largest hornet. A single colony can kill an entire hive of 30,000 honey bees in just a few hours. Their venom destroys red blood cells and can cause organ failure.

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Did You Know?

Asian giant hornets can decapitate 40 honey bees per minute. Japanese honey bees defend themselves by swarming a hornet and vibrating to raise temperature to 47°C — killing it with heat.

Green Grooved Dung Beetle

A metallic green and copper tunneling dung beetle with a prominent male horn that is slightly offset to one side. The pronotum is smoothly convex and brilliantly iridescent. Found in southeastern North American forests.

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Did You Know?

The asymmetrical horn of the male is unique among North American Phanaeus species.