Hydnus Prionine vs Small Australian Tunneler

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Hydnus Prionine Small Australian Tunneler
Scientific Name Dorysthenes hydrophilus Onthophagus parvus
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Cerambycidae Scarabaeidae
Size 35-55 mm 4-6 mm
Habitat Forests Woodlands
Diet Root Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions India (Western Ghats, Eastern Ghats), Sri Lanka Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Hydnus Prionine

A large dark brown prionine beetle found in the tropical forests of India and Sri Lanka. Its larvae develop in the roots of large trees in moist forest habitats. Adults are powerful nocturnal fliers attracted to light.

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Did You Know?

Despite its large size, this species is rarely collected because of its preference for deep forest habitats far from roads.

Small Australian Tunneler

A tiny, brown tunneling dung beetle native to Australia. It is one of the few native Australian species adapted to process the dry, pellet-like dung of marsupials. Found in eucalyptus woodland across the continent.

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Did You Know?

Native Australian dung beetles evolved with marsupial pellet dung and were ill-equipped to handle the wet dung of introduced cattle.