Bearded Robber Fly vs Lord Howe Island Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Bearded Robber Fly | Lord Howe Island Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Machimus atricapillus | Anoplognathus macleayi |
| Order | Diptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Asilidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 12-18 mm | 2-3 cm |
| Habitat | Heathland | Forests |
| Diet | Herbivores | Herbivores |
| Regions | Europe | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Critically Endangered |
Bearded Robber Fly
A common European robber fly with a prominent mystax (facial beard) of bristles that protect its face during prey capture. It hunts from perches on bare ground and low vegetation.
Did You Know?
Its dense facial beard of stiff bristles acts as a protective cage, shielding its eyes from the thrashing legs of captured prey.
Lord Howe Island Beetle
A scarab beetle endemic to Lord Howe Island with metallic green coloring. It has suffered severe decline due to introduced rats.
Did You Know?
This beetle was once so abundant it was considered a pest but is now extremely rare after rat introduction in 1918.