Botany Bay Diamond Weevil vs Green Metallic Tunneler

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Botany Bay Diamond Weevil Green Metallic Tunneler
Scientific Name Chrysolopus spectabilis Onitis alexis
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Curculionidae Scarabaeidae
Size 15-25 mm 14-22 mm
Habitat Beaches & Coastal Farmland
Diet Omnivores Dung Feeders
Regions Australia Africa, introduced to Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Botany Bay Diamond Weevil

A large weevil covered in brilliant pale green scales with black diamond-shaped patches. It was one of the first Australian insects described by European science.

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Did You Know?

It was collected by Joseph Banks during Captain Cook's first voyage to Australia in 1770.

Green Metallic Tunneler

A medium-sized tunneling dung beetle with a metallic green pronotum and dark brown elytra. Males have an enlarged prothorax. It constructs vertical tunnels beneath cattle dung and is nocturnal.

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Did You Know?

Introduced to Australia in the 1980s, this species was specifically targeted for its ability to handle cattle dung in tropical climates.