Downy Leatherwing vs Blackburn Earth-Boring Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Downy Leatherwing | Blackburn Earth-Boring Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Podabrus tomentosus | Blackburnium reichei |
| Order | Coleoptera | Coleoptera |
| Family | Cantharidae | Geotrupidae |
| Size | 9-12 mm | 8-12 mm |
| Habitat | Rivers & Streams | Heathland |
| Diet | Herbivores | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | North America | Australia |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Downy Leatherwing
A North American soldier beetle covered in fine pubescence, found on flowers and foliage in summer. It is an effective predator of aphids and other small insects.
Did You Know?
Its larvae are active predators in leaf litter and can even survive brief periods of freezing temperatures.
Blackburn Earth-Boring Beetle
A small, globular earth-boring dung beetle with a dark brown to black body. Endemic to Australia, it processes marsupial dung. It constructs deep burrows in sandy soils provisioned with dung for larvae.
Did You Know?
This is one of the few native Australian dung beetles adapted to process the dry, fibrous dung of marsupials.