Blue Mountains Glowworm vs Sicardi's Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Blue Mountains Glowworm Sicardi's Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Arachnocampa richardsae Helictopleurus sicardi
Order Diptera Coleoptera
Family Mycetophilidae Scarabaeidae
Size 3-5 mm 8-13 mm
Habitat Forests Forests
Diet Fungus Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Australia Madagascar
Conservation Least Concern Data Deficient

Blue Mountains Glowworm

An Australian bioluminescent fungus gnat closely related to the New Zealand glowworm. Its larvae hang from cave ceilings and rainforest overhangs, emitting a blue-green glow.

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Did You Know?

Different Arachnocampa species emit slightly different colors of light, from blue-green to green-yellow.

Sicardi's Dung Beetle

A compact forest dung beetle with a glossy black body and strongly punctured elytra. Males have a small but distinct cephalic horn used in competitive encounters.

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Did You Know?

It is part of the ancient Helictopleurus radiation that diverged from continental African dung beetles over 30 million years ago.