Coppery Tunneler vs Spine-Tailed Earwig
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Coppery Tunneler | Spine-Tailed Earwig |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Onthophagus ferox | Doru aculeatum |
| Order | Coleoptera | Dermaptera |
| Family | Scarabaeidae | Forficulidae |
| Size | 6-10 mm | 10-14 mm |
| Habitat | Farmland | Farmland |
| Diet | Dung Feeders | Herbivores |
| Regions | Africa, introduced to Australia | North America |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
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.
Spine-Tailed Earwig
A slender earwig found in cornfields and grassy habitats across eastern North America. It shelters in the leaf whorls of corn and other tall grasses.
Did You Know?
Farmers consider this earwig beneficial because it preys heavily on corn earworm eggs and aphids in crop fields.