Bolboceras Dung Beetle vs Semaphore Fly

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Bolboceras Dung Beetle Semaphore Fly
Scientific Name Bolboceras armiger Poecilobothrus nobilitatus
Order Coleoptera Diptera
Family Geotrupidae Dolichopodidae
Size 10-18 mm 5-7 mm
Habitat Gardens Gardens
Diet Dung Feeders Omnivores
Regions Australia Europe
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Bolboceras Dung Beetle

A stout, rounded earth-boring beetle with a yellowish-brown body and a prominent horn on the male head. It digs deep burrows to cultivate subterranean fungal gardens rather than provisioning with dung. Adults are attracted to lights.

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Did You Know?

Rather than eating dung, this earth-boring beetle cultivates underground fungal gardens in its burrows.

Semaphore Fly

A tiny metallic green fly where males have conspicuous white-tipped wings used in semaphore-like courtship displays. It is extremely common around garden ponds and puddles.

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Did You Know?

Males stand on mud and wave their white-tipped wings like semaphore flags to attract females watching nearby.