Giant Northern Termite vs Watanabe Dung Beetle
Side-by-side species comparison
| Attribute | Giant Northern Termite | Watanabe Dung Beetle |
|---|---|---|
| Scientific Name | Mastotermes darwiniensis | Onthophagus watanabei |
| Order | Blattodea | Coleoptera |
| Family | Mastotermitidae | Scarabaeidae |
| Size | 10-15mm | 6-10 mm |
| Habitat | Forests | Forests |
| Diet | Wood Feeders | Dung Feeders |
| Regions | Oceania | Southeast Asia (Borneo, Sumatra) |
| Conservation | Least Concern | Least Concern |
Giant Northern Termite
The most primitive living termite and the only surviving member of its family. It retains many cockroach-like features including laying eggs in cockroach-like oothecae. It is extremely destructive to timber.
Did You Know?
It is a living fossil, the most primitive termite alive, retaining cockroach-like features that link termites to their ancestors.
Watanabe Dung Beetle
A small, brown tunneling dung beetle from Southeast Asian forests with distinctively elongated curved horns in major males. It is a forest-interior species sensitive to habitat disturbance. Found beneath dung of wild mammals.
Did You Know?
This species disappears from logged forests, making it an indicator of old-growth forest health.