Black Field Cricket vs Coppery Tunneler
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Black Field Cricket | Coppery Tunneler |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Teleogryllus commodus | Onthophagus ferox |
| Order | Orthoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Gryllidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | Body 25-30 mm | 6-10 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Seed Feeders | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Australia, New Zealand | Africa, introduced to Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Black Field Cricket
A common black cricket whose chirping song is a familiar sound of Australian summer nights. It is widespread across Australia and has been introduced to New Zealand.
Did You Know?
Females choose mates based on the quality and complexity of the male's chirping song.
Coppery Tunneler
A small, coppery-brown tunneling dung beetle native to Africa, now established in Australia. Males have a pair of backward-curving horns. It is active during summer and autumn and is an efficient processor of cattle dung.
Did You Know?
Introduced to Australia in the 1970s, it has become one of the most abundant dung beetles in subtropical Queensland.