Papua New Guinea Jewel Beetle vs Binodis Dung Beetle

Side-by-side species comparison

Attribute Papua New Guinea Jewel Beetle Binodis Dung Beetle
Scientific Name Chrysochroa mniszechii Onthophagus binodis
Order Coleoptera Coleoptera
Family Buprestidae Scarabaeidae
Size 25-40 mm 6-10 mm
Habitat Forests Farmland
Diet Wood Feeders Dung Feeders
Regions Oceania (Papua New Guinea) Southern Africa, introduced to Australia
Conservation Least Concern Least Concern

Papua New Guinea Jewel Beetle

A spectacularly colourful jewel beetle found in Papua New Guinea, with an iridescent metallic body that shifts between green, blue, and purple. Like all buprestids, its larvae are wood borers. Adults are found on logs and tree trunks in tropical forest.

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Did You Know?

The brilliant metallic colours of jewel beetles are caused by thin-film interference in layered structures within their exoskeleton, inspiring biomimetic research in optics.

Binodis Dung Beetle

A small, brown-black tunneling dung beetle with two small nodules on the male head. It was introduced to Australia from southern Africa. It is well adapted to Mediterranean climates with seasonal activity.

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Did You Know?

It is most active during the cooler autumn and spring months, complementing summer-active introduced species.