Australian Horned Dung Beetle vs Horn Fly
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Australian Horned Dung Beetle | Horn Fly |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus australis | Haematobia irritans |
| Order | Coleoptera | Diptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Muscidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 3-5 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Blood Feeders |
| Regions | Australia | Worldwide |
| 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.
Horn Fly
A small blood-feeding fly that spends almost its entire life on cattle. It clusters at the base of horns and along the back and belly.
Did You Know?
Each fly feeds up to 40 times daily, and infestations of thousands per animal cause severe weight loss.