Australian Horned Dung Beetle vs Australian Sheep Blowfly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Australian Horned Dung Beetle | Australian Sheep Blowfly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus australis | Calliphora augur |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Calliphoridae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 10-13 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Carrion Feeders |
| Regions | Australia | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Australian Horned Dung Beetle
A small brown tunneling dung beetle native to Australia with minor horns in males. It was one of the first dung beetle species studied in early Australian biological control programs. It excavates tunnels beneath cow pats.
Did You Know?
Australia imported dozens of dung beetle species to deal with cattle dung that native beetles could not process.
Australian Sheep Blowfly
A large, dark blue blow fly endemic to Australia with a distinctive orange face and cheeks. It is one of the earliest colonizers of carrion in Australian conditions and is used in forensic entomology. Occasionally it contributes to secondary blowfly strike in sheep.
Did You Know?
Its bright orange face distinguishes it from other blue blow flies and makes it one of the most recognizable forensic indicator species in Australia.