Eastern Forest Dung Beetle vs Four-toothed Mason Wasp

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Eastern Forest Dung Beetle Four-toothed Mason Wasp
Scientific Name Onthophagus hecate Monobia quadridens
Order Coleoptera Hymenoptera
Family Scarabaeidae Vespidae
Size 5-9 mm 16-19 mm
Habitat Woodlands Woodlands
Diet Dung Feeders Nectar Feeders
Regions Eastern North America Eastern North America
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Eastern Forest Dung Beetle

A small, dark brown to black tunneling dung beetle common in eastern North American forests. Males have a short median horn. It is the most frequently encountered native dung beetle in woodland habitats of the eastern United States.

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Did You Know?

This is the most commonly collected native dung beetle in eastern North American forests.

Four-toothed Mason Wasp

A solitary black and white mason wasp that nests in hollow stems and old carpenter bee tunnels. It provisions cells with paralyzed moth caterpillars.

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Did You Know?

It divides its nest tunnel into multiple cells using mud partitions, each containing one egg.